Bullying and victimization among students with exceptionalities

This is the published version of an article originally published by the University of Calgary Press, sourced though Scholarship@Western and reused with written permission.Children and youth with exceptionalities are at increased risk to be marginalized in their peer group because of their exceptionalities; they are hence more vulnerable to victimization by peers who have higher status and more social power. Research also suggests that children and youth with exceptionalities may be more likely to bully others. Without supportive relationships with peers and with adults, children and youth who have physical, learning, intellectual or emotional disabilities may be less able to achieve important developmental tasks and full quality of life. Using a developmental and systemic-ecological perspective we outline bullying prevention and intervention strategies to scaffold individual students' healthy relationship skills and to create a positive and inclusive social climate at school.PREVNet is funded through the Networks of Centres of Excellence - New Initiative program