Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) is aware that there has been some recent media coverage of bullying affecting young people with disability.
We do not talk about specific stories and we will not name any young person affected by bullying unless the young person has chosen to speak out on their own terms. This is because we think respecting the privacy and dignity of every young person is important.
We also know that bullying is unfortunately common for young people with disability. Bullying often happens out of the glare of the public eye; public attention should not be the measure we use to decide that bullying is unacceptable.
YDAS believes that every young person has the right to be treated with respect, regardless of disability or any other aspect of who they are. No instance of bullying or abuse should go unaddressed. If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying, please seek help.
You can contact YDAS if you’re a young person with a disability and you want help to sort out bullying.
If you need someone to talk to because you're distressed please contact Kids Helpline.
If you would like school or online workshops about bullying and respect, get in touch with PROJECT ROCKIT.