Students with disability continue to be subject to high rates of bullying and harassment in the education system. (See also Article 24) While many schools have anti-bullying policies, they are often inadequate in addressing the specific needs and circumstances of children and young people with disability, raising concerns under Article 16(1).
Case Study
A girl with a visual impairment studying at a high school in a rural area is harassed by other children and bullied on the basis of her disability. When she tells an education department representative about her experience, she is told to “get over it, that’s life sweetie”.276
Case Study
In 2010, a 15 year old student in New South Wales with Asperger’s Syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was attacked by fellow students and received severe concussion during the bashing. The student was not accompanied by anybody in the ambulance to hospital and the student’s father was only informed about the assault after contacting the hospital three hours after the attack. Police were not informed of the attack until the following day.277
