A disability may be defined as a psychological or physiological impediment to one's mobility, faculties, and activities (De Bouse, 2019). Disability bullying is "repeated deliberate undesired, physiologically, orally,and socially aggressive behavior" (De Bouse, 2019).
While bullying a non-disabled individual usually represents a bully-bullied imbalance of power (the latter being dominant), disability bullying creates a double bully-bullied imbalance of power because disabled individuals are physiologically and/or psychologically less equipped to combat bullies than are non-disabled individuals.
In a two-year survey study of 6,500 students grades k-12 by the University of Florida professors Rose and Gage (2016), "Sixty-six percent of disabled students in grade 3 reported some bullying compared to 42 percent of other students, and when the students reached fifth grade, the gap remained similar, 61 percent compared to 41 percent."
Because of the double bully-bullied imbalance of power that places disabled individuals at an inherent greater disadvantage than non-disabled individuals, I liken this act of disability bullying unto an adult taking advantage of an innocent newborn baby who not yet has the capacity to combat an adult. This is not to insinuate by any means that disabled individuals are helpless.
Many persons with disabilities-depending on the type and severity, have optimal societal functionality despite their disability, provided they have access to the necessary resources that allow them to achieve such. Still, the Royal Mencap Society (2018) that helps persons with learning disability asserts "81% of students in the UK are bullied," and the Interactive Autism Network (2017) "found that 63% of children with autism are bullied in the United States." The latter occurs most likely because autistic children may be unable to adequately verbalize their need for help (see my article here https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/discrimination/gdb.php).
In reference to my previous likening of disability bullying unto an adult taking advantage of a defenseless newborn, because disability bullying is a double imbalance of power, I contend legal ramifications for those who engage in such bullying should be doubled.
- Greshun De Bouse™ © 2019 All Rights Reserved. First Move Life Coaching LLC™ © 2019 All Rights Reserved.
Dotinga, R. (2016, December 28). Disabled children face bullying throughout school years. Health Day. Retrieved from https://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/bullying-health-news-718/disabled-children-face-bullying-throughout-school-years-717491.html
Interactive Autism Network (2017). Disability abuse. Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_abuse
Royal Mencap Society (2018). Bullying. Retrieved from https://www.mencap.org.uk