Bullying and Aspergers

[PrettyCandles]

Can Aspergers be 'bullied' out of a child? Not in the sense of cured!

If a person with AS is bullied for their socially inadequate behaviour or geeky interests, for example, could they as a consequence try to fit in by suppressing these aspects of themselves?

What effect would this have on them?

That article is very interesting, thanks for linking to it!

I think eating disorders makes a lot of sense.

It must feel very confusing and very dis empowering to have such little control over your life.
To be bullied daily because you don't fit in, yet being totally unable to become the people the bullies think you should be. To be intelligent enough to know that you will probably always stand out as a "freak" or "weirdo".

Their is so very little open for them to control, and yet eating is within their grasp. They are able to decide what is put into their bodies. And the analytical and slightly obsessive aspect of the ASpergers will mean that they will focus on food quite intently and will turn what is possibly a fad or phase for many teenagers, into a full blown disorder.

That article is scary - it describes everything I know about her.

Glad to have helped!!!

Ps. I found it pretty scary too when I first read it

Should I show it to her?

who has suggested the aspergers diagnosis? If she has then yes definately. If she hasn't got the label/diagnosis and hasn't suggested it herself, i might tread more carefully talk to her about it first... but probably yes again.

my ds was bullied at school pre- AS diagnosis (by teachers as well as other pupils), his self esteem was in his boots, he was depressed...the bottom line is that the "normal" rules go out of the window with AS - you need to respond with love and care, and an element of distraction. They can't find the words and language to articulate feelings so resort to clowing around or anxiety or aggression - this is not deliberate. By showing them you understand the root of the behaviour, which we see as deviant but is actually a cry for help , it helps them open up and find a way to articulate. It's a nightmare to deal with because as I say it goes against instincts, but you have to suspend your norm and go with their norm. Bullying and disciplining a person who does not understand the normal rules is not going to work - step into their shoes. Of course there are times when it's so frustrating and you do just freak out but try and remember it's not them, it's the aspergers...(it's a bit of a mantra between myself and dh when the going get's tough)

Of course not, we just end up painfully shy and with anxiety issues (I have a social phobia).

well, I did anyway

Aspergers is a disability and disabilities can not be bullied out of you.
don't get this thread, it is a non question

Sadly, this is sanctioned in some places- here.

The school still runs, even though the founder has been forced to quit: here.

Which unfortunately means that too many people believe that ASD can be bullied away...

OMG that's horrific Tethersend

I know.

That is profoundly disturbing, Tethers. Truly appalling thing to do, especially given the sensory issues that lots of people with ASD have - how much worse the electric shocks must have been than for a NT person! :(

I used to teach at an ABA school for autistic children, and spent a month on an exchange to another ABA school in the USA not far from that one; I was shocked enough by what I saw there WRT the medication of children as standard and the way children were restrained.

That school takes it onto a whole other level- even knowing how attitudes to ASD are different in the US, it's still extreme. I cannot imagine anything like that being allowed here...

OP-is the person on the receiving end of this bullying you?

My son has Aspergers syndrome, he was bullied (for want of a better word by some of his teachers and peers). It did nothing to rid him of his Aspergers but it did leave him with huge self worth problems.

The special school I used to work at had lots of rewards rather than lots of punishment for severely autistic children. Their behaviour management policy was very clear to everyone and children knew what they needed to do to get points and what types of behavours lost them points. They understood doing what was required of them gained them privilages like non school uniform or rewards afternoon. There were detentions or internal exclusion and loss of points for bad behaviour. Detentions were used to discuss challenging behaviour.

There are were points gained for reaching targets in class, not getting detentions, being punctual, being helpful, homework done etc. The school was very careful to reward the nice quiet children who caused no trouble as well as the naughty kids. It wasn't an ABA school, but it used similar ideas.

If you think about it ABA is what makes adults get out of bed and go to work when they have a boring job. An ABA behaviour management system based on rewards prepares children better for the world of work than electric shocks.

I think that behaviours like self injury are caused by high levels of stress rather than deliberate bad behaviour. I think the school in the US that uses electric shocks should be closed down. A good school will reduce the stress on a child and teach them coping mechanisms.