Bullying and Exclusion of Differently Abled Youth: Perspectives, Outcomes and Approaches to Foster Inclusion

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Differently abled youth experience high rates of bullying and exclusion at school (Rose et al., 2011) and bias-based bullying, such as bullying that targets youth because of disabilities, is associated with negative outcomes for youth (Mulvey et al., 2018; Russell et al., 2012). This symposium includes four papers, presenting qualitative and quantitative data from research and interventions in the United States and in Italy. Paper 1 presents findings from a qualitative study examining reports of bullying from American youth with disabilities and their parents, documenting that parents and their children often bring different perspectives to and understanding of victimization of youth with disabilities. Paper 2 presents findings of two studies with American youth. Study 1 documents that youth who report bias-based bullying due to disabilities report more negative outcomes than those who report generalized bullying. Study 2 documents that children and adolescents are influenced by peer norms when deciding whether to peers with disabilities and to intervene if they observe peers with disabilities being victimized. Paper 3 presents the findings of 5 intervention studies with Italian children testing vicarious and indirect contact with peers with disabilities. Results document that the interventions were effective in increasing attitudes and inclusive intentions towards peers with disabilities. Paper 4 presents findings examining a range of school-based intervention to prevent bullying of youth with disabilities including universal school-wide interventions as well as multi-tiered skill-based approaches. Together, these papers present comprehensive findings to inform policy and practice to reduce bullying and exclusion of differently-abled youth.

Sub Unit

• Solicited Content: Differently Abled Individuals

Chair

• Kelly Lynn S Mulvey, North Carolina State University

Individual Presentations

• Differences in Parent and Child Reporting of Bullying Experiences for Adolescents with Disabilities - Presenting Author: Rebecca Kammes, Michigan State University; Non-Presenting Author: Marisa H. Fisher, Michigan State University; Non-Presenting Author: Cynde Josol, Michigan State University; Non-Presenting Author: Katie Cwiakala, Michigan State University

• Bias-Based Bullying of Youth with Disabilities: Understanding Outcomes and Fostering Peer Bystander Intervention - Presenting Author: Kelly Lynn S Mulvey, North Carolina State University; Non-Presenting Author: Secil Gonultas, North Carolina State University

• Promoting social inclusion of children with disability in the school using vicarious and imagined intergroup contact - Presenting Author: Elisa Bisagno, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia; Non-Presenting Author: Alessia Cadamuro, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia; Non-Presenting Author: Veronica Margherita Cocco; Non-Presenting Author: Maria Cristina Ginevra, Università di Padova; Non-Presenting Author: Gian Antonio Di Bernardo; Non-Presenting Author: Michele Birtel, University of Greenwich, London; Non-Presenting Author: Loris Vezzali, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

• Starting at the Foundation: Implementing a School-Wide Bully Prevention Approach - Presenting Author: Chad Allen Rose, University of Missouri - Columbia; Non-Presenting Author: Katie Graves, University of Missouri; Non-Presenting Author: Cannon Ousley, University of Missouri; Non-Presenting Author: Lindsey Mirielli, University of Missouri; Non-Presenting Author: Tracey Milarsky, University of Missouri