Nearly half of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders are
victims of bullying, according to research published online
Sept. 3 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. If
you have a child who has autism, you need to be concerned. I
work in schools all across North America and kids tell me what
it is like in the 21st century social scene. Kids show me what
people write and post on Facebook and Twitter. Much of this
behavior may seem normal if you watch The Housewives of New
Jersey, Survivor or Family Guy, but to a teen who wants nothing
more than to fit in and be accepted, the things that teens write
about each other on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the
kinds of things that would spiral any teen into a deep
depression. And for kids who have disorders that do not enable
them to properly assess social cues, you would be sick with what
you see. For me, it’s enough to dedicate my life to carrying a
message of hope and teaching solutions. This past month, I
presented a program at Stockton Colle