Why Bullying (of autistics) May Be More of a Problem to Solve Than We Realize

    Autistic children and teens are 63% more likely to be bullied than others in their social class (Oswald, 2020). Without that figure, bullying is still rampant. A 2013 Psychology Today article raised the question, "Can bullying be ever be stopped?" Yes, we must understand the evolutionary nature of bullying, which is not confined to one species. Bullying occurs across the human world and in all other primate species and animal species like wolves (Harper, 2013, Sherrow., 2011).

    Studies show that mice bullied by their own species and experiencing repeated social defeats are more anxious and agitated (Sherrow, 2011). If bullying is hardwired into primate species, how do human primates combat on a social level? The following points are suggested.

• A strict proactive (not reactive) zero-tolerance policy against bullying.
• School officials everywhere
• No of this "I did not see it" rhetoric from teachers. All allegations of bullying are investigated.
• Cameras everywhere, and where cameras cannot be placed, a teacher or other school official is placed.

    

    References

Autism and trauma: Bullying. (2021, September 6). Tasha Oswald. Retrieved January 30, 2022, from https://opendoorstherapy. com/autism-and-trauma-bullying

Harper, J. (2013, September 12). Animal Rites: What Animal Behavior Teaches Us About Bullying. Psychology Today. https:// www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-bullying/ 201309/animal-rites-what-animal-behavior-teaches-us-about-bullying

Sherrow, H. (2011, December 15). The origins of bullying. Scientific American Blog Network. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-origins-of-bullying/?print=true

Arizona Crisis Response Team Fails

Click here to see recommendations to help facilitate Arizona's Crisis Response system back on course 

Autism Awareness...Inclusion...Kindness...We Need All Three

   We need Autism awareness, inclusion, and kindness. We need all three, yet we do not have all three. What use is awareness and inclusion when compassion and kindness are absent. Some might say, "I did not know you are autistic." Mr. or Mrs. neurotypical, did you ever think that behaving in an unkind way to people in general would eventually lead to expressing unkindness to an autistic. Change your angry attitude or do not talk.

     Hopefully this goes somewhere. From today, the Tucson Autism Kindness Campaign has just started. 

Nathon's Kingdom (Retroactive) Review---A Powerful Drama About Adult Autism and Its Toll on Siblings

    Adult autism can have its toll on a family. Jacob Lince plays an autistic adult taken care of by his drug-user sister, Madison Ford. They embark on a journey to find their long-imagined kingdom defying social workers and other odds, including a love-hate relationship with her brother because of her inability to deal with his autism. They also meet a few friends along the way. 

    The movie continues to detail their travels to find their elusive kingdom with a nice touch of animation to describe what appears to be the kingdom. The energy between the brother and sister is intense, but the storyline indicates she is an opioid user but does not develop that storyline. Do not miss Nathan's Kingdom to see if he finds it. I give the grade a B+.