Identifying Effective Support for Students with Disabilities who have Experienced Bullying

Abstract

This study examines the support experiences of 23 tertiary students with disabilities after being bullied, either at high school or at a tertiary institution. The anonymous online survey focused on what elements of support students found helpful and what would encourage them to seek support after they had been bullied. The findings showed that, after being bullied, most students sought support from parents and friends, followed by counsellors and teachers. However, participants found the support they received only moderately helpful, at best. Participants wanted to see improvements made to: the accessibility of support systems, the action taken after a bullying incident, and education about people with disabilities. Therefore, improvements need to be made to the support provided to tertiary students with disabilities who have experienced bullying within educational institutions.