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This October has been a busy month for promoting awareness of people with disabilities, including our 11^th annual Triangle Run/Walk for Autism, the Fourth Annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, and the entire month is Disability Awareness Month for all North Carolina schools.  And, just 2 weeks ago, President Obama proclaimed October 2009 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month!  Don’t forget that NC has joined the ranks of states who explicitly forbid bullying of all students, while enumerating categories of students who are particularly vulnerable, including students with disabilities (read the text of the bill here: http://tinyurl.com/yzwbzpf).  Thanks to all those who lobbied their legislators to pass this very necessary bill—among them ASNC’s Parent Advocate Linda Griffin.

How do you know what your school is doing to protect students, including those with disabilities, from bullying?  Here are some questions to ask:

•      What is your school’s policy for bullying or harassing behaviors (is it at least as complete as the state law)?
•       How does your school teach the students to deal with bullying, and what are the consequences for students who harass or bully others?  If there are no programs currently being used to educate students, talk to teachers and other parents (especially the PTA) about starting this process.

Here’s where you can find more information about these important public awareness events: 

www.teensagainstbullying.org

www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org

About President Obama’s declaration:

http://tinyurl.com/ykcgays

           http://tinyurl.com/yblam5a

October is Disability Awareness and History Month in all NC schools:

http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/docs/ec/home/sb753.pdf

School Violence Prevention:

http://www.disabilityrightsnc.org/page.php?mode=privateview&pageID=143

For more information, please contact the Parent Advocate for your region (map available here: http://tinyurl.com/yk9xfjo).

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