Protecting Against Bullying
Autistic children are bullied far more often — often without the words to report it.
Assume it happens; build the channels
Research consistently shows autistic children experience bullying at much higher rates — and many cannot report it, or don't recognize it as bullying. Prevention: teach what bullying looks like with social stories, create a low-effort reporting channel (a card, an app, a trusted adult signal), share communication needs with the school in writing, and watch for nonverbal signs — school refusal, sleep changes, new stims. Response: document everything, escalate in writing, protect before you investigate.
Key benefits
Teach recognition
Social stories about bullying.
Easy reporting
A card or signal, not a speech.
School in writing
Needs documented, not verbal.
Watch the signs
Refusal, sleep, new behaviors.
What's included
- Anti-bullying social stories.
- SOS card for asking help.
- Mood and incident tracking.
- Shareable reports for school.
- Feelings chart for daily check-ins.
- Printable resources.
- Five languages.
- Free core tools.
Frequently asked questions
How common is bullying of autistic children?+
Studies suggest a majority experience it at some point — far above average.
What if my child can't tell me?+
Watch behavior changes and create a nonverbal way to signal something is wrong.
What should the school do?+
Document in writing, request their anti-bullying protocol, and follow up in email.
Does inclusion make it worse?+
Poorly supported inclusion can — support and education of peers change outcomes.
Can an app help?+
Yes — stories teach recognition and tracking builds evidence.