Connect-Ability Tackles Cyberbullying

It seems today that everybody from talk show hosts to teachers have something to say on the issue of "cyberbullying"--the harassment of others through an electronic medium.  At a recent Connect-Ability workshop, we asked the writers just what they thought about this new and scary trend; and how to spot it.

Prompt: "Cyberbullying is when a bully uses technology devices such as cell phones, computers, and tablets to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, or embarrass another person.

How can you spot cyberbullying?"

Responses:

"You can spot cyberbullying on most interactive social media these days.  Yo can see a public interaction between two people or a group ridiculing each other.  Most of the time it is out in the open for the purpose of gaining attention.  Though, sometimes it is hard to spot genuinely becuse of the subtle difference between friends teasing, and a bully doing their job."

"Anytime someone is made fun of because of who they are over a computer monitor, it is cyberbullying.  This can be the work of one "cyberbully" or a group.  When one of these people sends you something nasty, it should be reported.  If the instances keep occurring after that, then the police should become involved"


If you, or anyone you know ever feel unsafe or if you are ever threatened be it through the web or not--it is always right to let somebody know.  A bully is only as successful as you allow them to be, and by telling a parent, teacher, coach, or any other grownup that you trust about what is going on--you have the power to end all kinds of bullying.

At a recent writing workshop for Connect-Ability.blogspot.com 
students were asked to place themselves in some situations that students with disabilities face every day. This is one of them:

Situation: "I have a hearing-impairment, and wear hearing aids.  My friends sometimes half-jokingly make fun of my situation.  Should I say something or should I just roll with the punches since we all kid one another at times about something?"


Responses:

" Even though you and your friends may joke, if you ever feel like anything is taken too far you should tell them to stop. Even jokes from friends can be hurtful sometimes, and though it may be hard to confront your peers on this, if they are your true friends they will understand."

" It is one thing to joke when everyone is laughing, because sometimes it is necessary to stop being over sensitive and just take time to laugh at your own self.  However, if you are ever hurt or offended by these comments, you should speak up. If they are good friends, they will understand and stop."

Connect-Ability.blogspot.com student member tells us about bullying that's she witnessed in her school. She says sometime the behavior can be overt, with physical behaviors, such as fighting, hitting or name calling, or it can be covert, with emotional-social interactions, such as gossiping or leaving someone out on purpose. It all amounts to the same thing - the behavior hurts or harms another person physically or emotionally.

What's going on at your school?

Anyone heard of the Dignity for All Students Act?
It requires that schools maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex, which will strengthen students' confidence and promote learning.

 

Life after school...
Connect-Ability.blogspot.com editorial board members listen to a speaker talk about his experience as a person with a disability looking for a job. The writing workshop focused on planning for life after school.  Students discussed how to become active participants in the transition from school to work.









What's happening at your school to prepare students with disabilities for the world of work?

Creating a Disabilities Awareness Puppet Show
Katie and Alysa, former Connect-Ability editorial board members and now college freshmen, help write scripts to be used by elementary school teachers to help raise awareness of disabilities and the many students affected by them. Check out the puppetry videos in the blog's right hand margin to see their work.

At a recent writing workshop for Connect-Ability.blogspot.com
students were asked to complete some sentences. This is one of them:

I am blind and when I think about my future I_____________
   
    I have my whole life ahead of me and I can make of it what I want.


    I imagine a life just like many of my friends do.  I hope to go to college,
    get married and have children. I want a nice house for my happy family.
    My disability will not determine my future. I am in charge of my life and I
    know I have a lot ahead of me.


    I intend to think this through about what career I want for myself.  I really
    need to buckle down and work hard to get into college. I know if I stick to
    it I'll be just fine.


How would you complete this sentence? Any ideas?
Click on the Comment below and send them to us.


What would I say about my future?

Tom Corrado, Connect-Ability writing coach, reads his poetry at a workshop in 2008.  For eighteen years he has been sharing his many creative talents - writing, music, art - with Connect-Ability editorial board members. He inspires Connect-Ability bloggers to tap into their own inborn abilities.

Comment if you have a teacher who inspires you.

Katie D. created this logo
for Connect-Ability.  I like the
heart shape line extending
from the A for Ability.

What do you think?

FEEDING THE BLOG

Valoree writes for Connect-Ability.blogspot.com at the March 23 writing workshop at NYSUT Headquarters. Val is a former editor of the Connect-Ability newsletter and serves as a mentor to younger students. She's currently an active advocate for students with disabilities in the Newburgh area.



Connect-Ability Q&A:

 

Q:    There's a new kid in my school who wears really thick glasses. He sits in the front row in every class so he can see the board. He told me he likes playing chess and asked me to play sometime. I like chess a lot but this kid may be weird. I feel funny hanging out with him. What should I do?

 

A:     I think you should play chess with him. Don't think that just because he looks "weird" or acts "weird" he can't be a really good friend in the long run. Don't judge a book by its cover because what's inside is all that matters. You guys have something in common - explore that! You might get in touch with an old friend of Connect-Ability - Fabio Botarelli. Look what he's doing with chess.

 

Fabio Botarelli, a former editor of  Connect-ability has always been interested in promoting the welfare of people with learning disabilities since joining the newsletter as a freshman in high school back in 2003. After graduating from Trinity College in Hartford CT, in 2010, Fabio retired from writing for Connect-ability and created his own chess business called Chessability NY. Today his business runs three individual chess programs in NYC schools and plans on making chess part of the general curriculum of all schools in the state of New York. He has extensive tutoring experience working with students with learning disabilities because he was once in special education himself and he knows first hand how the game of chess can work wonders for students of all educational backgrounds, especially for those who love to learn and have the potential to learn much but struggle in a mainstream school environment. Contact Fabio at fabiobotarelli10@gmail.com for more information.

 

Some of our student editorial board members are helping us design a Connect-Ability logo. They would appreciate your feedback and ideas. Comment below.

 

 

Q. My cousin uses pictures to communicate. He can't say a word. If I want to talk to him I have to use his pictures.  I hate it. I try to keep it simple. I really can't talk to him about stuff I'm interested in. So I mostly sit in silence when I see him. What would a kid like that have to say anyway?

A. Don't take your frustrations out on him. He probably looks up to you.  Even though he doesn't have the ability to speak, he has the ability to use pictures to tell you what he is trying to say. So help him communicate on a broader level and use this to your (and his) advantage. Make some new pictures for him that will help him understand new words. Trust me! Almost every kid has a lot to say. The only difference is he can't express it the way you want him to.
Tee-Ahna

Sister

I waited for you for years
All I ever wanted was a sibling
Finally you came and changed my life
More than we would ever know

"The baby from space" we called her
Not knowing how true this would become
A longing, distant stare took the place of a joyful smile
Much to our dismay
No longer could she speak or seem to listen when we spoke
Hardly was she the sibling I'd been waiting for

Life became unbearable as the years progressed
Vacations seemed more like hell than a rest
The screams and fights filled the house every hour every day
We were internally destroyed
Never one day did I not cry

I love her so much
Does she know what that means?
I often wonder what goes on in her mind
Is it chaos or paradise?
Not a care in the world
Or a terror she cannot express?
I'd give anything to know

Some days still haunt me
The ghost of her old self returns and takes over our world for a night
I can't bear to be around
Once we think she's behaving better
It all comes crashing down

I love that little girl with all my heart
Her presence fills the room with laughter and smiles
The only autistic kid with a sense of humor
I'm so lucky to have her
My baby girl is always there for me
But does she know she is?

Elizabeth Creamer

Check out Tarheelreader

 

Computer science professor Gary Bishop is motivated by the 15-year-old students with cerebral palsy and debilitating motor impairment who can’t talk or use their hands.

It’s those students, who are constantly dealing with people assuming they can’t understand the simplest of tasks, that inspired Bishop, the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies and the Department of Computer Science to develop the Tar Heel Reader.

Tarheelreader.org provides reading material beyond the picture books of 3- or 4-year-olds for teens with developmental disabilities who are just learning to read.

 

Teach Your Children about Disabilities

 

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It only takes a little time to educate children about disabilities. My son is autistic and if parents would only talk to their children about others and their differences I wouldn't have to explain to much to my own child about others lack of knowledge. If that sounds mean it's not intended to. My son gets his feelings hurt and doesn't quite understand why people are so rude to him. Honestly these people just don't know all about autism and that's why we have to advocate and educate.

Jessica F.