For kids and adults with autism and other disabilities, bullying is far too common. Studies show that more than 60 percent of autistic children and adults have experienced bullying at some point in their lives. 

At Autism Speaks, we believe we can and must change this statistic for the better. In our commitment to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism, we work to create a more inclusive world through advocacy, public awareness, creation of equitable opportunities and by sharing stories of each person’s unique experience.

In this edition of E-Speaks, you’ll hear directly from members of the autism community on how bullying has affected their lives, learn how a childhood incident was the catalyst for one autistic author to find his inner strength, discover ways you can talk to your child about bullying at school and stop it before it begins. You’ll also get a few helpful tips on how to make this Halloween fun and safe for everyone!

In our own words: an inside look at bullying and how it resonates in the autism community

Meet Maddy K., 24, Haris H., 16, and Noah T., 12. All three are on the autism spectrum and have experienced bullying. In this blog, they each share how bullying has impacted their lives, how they overcame it and give advice on how we can all work to prevent bullying in the future.

Learn how you can prevent bullying at your child’s school 

Many children with autism are vulnerable to bullying, which can have a big impact on their wellbeing and ability to learn. Adults play an important role in being able to stop bullying when it happens. Our School Community Tool Kit provides information and strategies to help you talk to your child about bullying and stop bullying at school. It also offers guidelines for teachers, classmates and the rest of the school community on bullying prevention in the classroom.

Autistic author shares his experience rising above bullying 

When Sam Farmer was in the fifth grade, he experienced a bullying incident that left a lifetime mark. But by finding his inner strength, he was able to overcome the incident, gain confidence and see the bully for who he really was. In this blog post, you can read his story and learn how you too can rise above bullying.

Making Halloween a fun and inclusive day for everyone 

Halloween is a fun night of costumes and candy for people of all ages. But for those on the autism spectrum, scary sounds and decorations, tight or scratchy costumes and going out at night can be overwhelming. Helping your child know what to expect on Halloween can make it a better time for everyone. View our Halloween resources and learn how you can make Halloween more fun and inclusive for people with autism.

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