Effect of Bullying on Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case of a Selected Special Unit at the Mainstream in Kabwe Zambia

Abstract

This manuscript was a study which focused on the effects of bullying learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder in mainstream. The main objectives of the study were to assess the reasons of bullying learners with autism Spectrum Disorder, to establish how bulling affected learners with autism and to find out interventions the school had to put in place to stop bullying of learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study was conducted at the special unit at the mainstream and homes for learners with autism because that is where these learners were found. The study was qualitative in nature. Thus the instruments for data collection were the focused group discussion for parents, special education teachers, regular teachers and school administrators, structured interview guide for regular and Guidance teacher and lastly observation checklist for parents. The study revealed that the reasons for bulling learners with autism were as a result of failing to socialize with peers, being violent towards friends and having an antisocial behavior, failing to speak properly when with friends and not looking at the person they were talking to. The study also established the negative effects bulling had on these leaners such as increased violence, changing of antisocial behavior from bad to worse, they became more depressed and their low self-esteem became worse too. With regards interventions that were put in place by the school to stop bullying of learners with autism, the school plan helped learners develop and regain their loss of confidence by involving them in school activities such as academic work and giving them simpler work and reward them through praise or giving them something for doing something commendable, by helping them improve on their social interactions through encouraging them to interact more frequently with peers in order to correct their lost confidence. Suggested recommendations from the study includes, putting up a deliberate policy by the school to help autistic learners develop commutative skills, socialize frequently and positively with peers at least every day. Introduction of anti-bullying club at school to make other learners respect and accept these children’s condition without segregation. It was also recommended that the future study on the effects of bulling learners with autism in the mainstream would be necessary to establish more challenges faced by these learners in the mainstream and the research concerning autistic learners should be included in all mainstream schools in central province of Zambia in order to help these learners fully.