Arizona's Anti-Bullying Statute

Arizona has an anti-bullying statute that explains the obligations of each school district in regard to developing and enforcing policies and procedures to prohibit students from harassing, intimidating and bullying other students.  The policies are to cover school grounds, school property, school buses, school bus stops, school sponsored events and activities, and cyber bullying (electronic technology and electronic communication on school computers, networks, forums and mailing lists).  You should be familiar with your school district's policies.  Often the school district has a form for the parent to fill out, but unless you are aware of the policy, you might not be told about the policy when an incident occurs.  So what should you do now -- before any bullying incident?  Read your student/parent handbook AND ask the school principal or assistant principal for a complete copy of the school district's anti-bullying statute AND the forms that are to be filled out to report bullying and inappropriate incident.  It is extremely important to put the school and school district "on notice" (inform them, in writing) of any and all bullying, harassment, intimidation.  While bullying is defined as repeated events, don't wait until a second incident of inappropriate behavior to make a report.     

The policies and procedures must include the following components:

(a) A procedure for pupils, parents and school district employees to confidentially report to school officials incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying. The school shall make available written forms designed to provide a full and detailed description of the incident and any other relevant information about the incident.

(b) A requirement that school district employees report in writing suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying to the appropriate school official and a description of appropriate disciplinary procedures for employees who fail to report suspected incidents that are known to the employee.

(c) A requirement that, at the beginning of each school year, school officials provide all pupils with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to a pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this paragraph.

(d) If an incident is reported pursuant to this paragraph, a requirement that school officials provide a pupil who is an alleged victim of the incident with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil.

(e) A formal process for the documentation of reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and for the confidentiality, maintenance and disposition of this documentation. School districts shall maintain documentation of all incidents reported pursuant to this paragraph for at least six years. The school shall not use that documentation to impose disciplinary action unless the appropriate school official has investigated and determined that the reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred. If a school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, all individually identifiable information shall be redacted.

(f) A formal process for the investigation by the appropriate school officials of suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures for notifying the alleged victim on completion and disposition of the investigation.

(g) Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted or been found to have committed incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(h) A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting false reports of incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(i) Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically harmed as the result of incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying, including, if appropriate, procedures to contact emergency medical services or law enforcement agencies, or both.

(j) Definitions of harassment, intimidation and bullying.

Reminder of Upcoming Presentation: RIGHTS, ADVOCACY AND LAW

On May 10, 2012, Hope Kirsch, Esq. will be presenting with Wendy Shepherd, M.A. & P.I.:

Rights, Advocacy and Law: Empowering Families to Make Child-Related Decisions

Sponsored by the Children’s Service Network http://www.csn-az.org/

This presentation is designed to help parents and mental health professionals better understand how to advocate for children in educational and other settings. 
Time:  5:30 – 8 PM

Location:  12753 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale AZ 85254  (behind the JCC)

Dinner is available at $5 for non-members.  

Please RSVP to admin@kgklaw.com. 

Student with Autism Bullied at School

The parent of a 10-year old boy taped his son at school after the boy was coming home exhibiting new behaviors.  Wanting to understand what, if anything, was happening at school, the boy's father wired his son to record.  The tape revealed the worst.  Read the full story.
What to do if you suspect your child is being bullied at school? 

• If your child has an IEP, call for a meeting of the IEP team to discuss what can be done to address the bullying.  (A parent  may request a review of the IEP, and to the extent that you are actually requesting a review of the IEP to address behaviors, you are requesting a review of the IEP.  In Arizona, a parent who requests a review of the IEP must do so in writing.  An e-mail constitutes a writing.  Send your e-mail to more than one person to ensure that it is received in the event one person denies having received it.  An IEP review must take place within 15 school days of the receipt of the request or at a mutually agreed upon time but not to exceed 30 school days.)  At the IEP meeting, be specific when stating why you suspect bullying.  Request to observe on various days and at different times of the school day. 
• If your child does not have an IEP, send notice to the school.  Document your suspicions.  Email a request to your child's teacher AND the school principal AND the school district superintendent.  (If a charter school, send the email to at least the child's teacher and the head of school.)  Request a meeting and the reason why.  It is critical to put the school on notice of potential bullying.  And you want to know what the school will do to confirm and to address bullying, whether isolated instances or a pervasive problem. 

Presentation on Empowerment Scholarships

Lori Kirsch-Goodwin & Hope Kirsch will be discussing empowerment scholarships at the Northwest Valley High-Functioning Autism (HFA) Parent Support Group on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 6:30 PM to 8 PM at:
Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV)

7007 W. Happy Valley Road, Peoria (Corner of Happy Valley Rd. and 67th Avenue)
Building 300 (marked "Infants and Crawlers")
Parents of all special needs children are invited to this presentation. 
If you need any further info, e-mail nwvalleyhfa@gmail.com.

Upcoming Autism/Asperger's Conference

Please note the following conference that may be of interest:

Future Horizons Autism/Asperger's Conference in Tucson on Friday, May 4, 2012, at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort featuring , the noted scientist who has autism and the author of The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's, Eustacia Cutler, the mother of Temple Grandin who shares her views of autism through her personal experiences, and Rebecca Moyes, MEd, the author of A Thorn in My Pocket: Temple Grandin's Mother Tells the Family Story and Building Sensory Friendly Classrooms who shares practical strategies for teaching social skills and dealing with the behavioral challenges that impact students' success in the mainstream. Dr. Temple Grandin

For more information, to register, and/or to download a (PDF) conference brochure, please visit their website at:  

http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx or call Future Horizons at 800-489-0727.

Great inspirational story

Read this feel-good story about children with autism.  http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/16/health/autism-milestones-irpt/index.html

World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, 2012

The fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2012. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events.  See what you can do.  Visit Light it up blue.