Kids with learning disabilities being singled out by bullies in schools

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Eight out of 10 children with a learning disability have experienced bullying, a shock report out today has found. According to Mencap, six out of 10 children said that they have been physically hurt by bullies. The leading learning disability charity also claimed today that disablist bullying is sidelined by the Government and called for more to be done to tackle the problem. Mencap believes disablist bullying is destroying children's lives, leading to social exclusion in childhood and adulthood, and it said that the figures revealed by their report, 'Don't stick it Stop it! Bullying Wrecks Lives' reveals the extent of the problem. One Ulster pupil with special needs, who did not want to be identified, spoke of the horrifying attitude he was faced with when he found the courage to report the bullying he was experiencing. He said: "When I went to school, I got bullied really badly. I got bullied at break times by other children at school. They would call me names, spit on me and throw stones and bottles. "I told my teachers at school and they said that I had special needs so I should get used to it as I would be bullied all of my life. They also told me if I stopped playing at break, then I would not get bullied." Maureen Piggot, director of Mencap in Northern Ireland, said: "We need to see clear leadership from the Government to combat disablist bullying. Whilst Government recognises the impact of bullying, we believe that disablist bullying still is not high enough on their agenda. "Mencap's research highlights how big a problem bullying is for children and young people with a learning disability. Bullying results in missed opportunities to learn, make friends, socialise and play. These experiences inevitably follow children and young people to adulthood and impact negatively throughout their lives."