Easy Targets
People with Asperger Syndrome are incredibly easy
targets for being bullied in almost any educational or
workplace setting. Research shows that from a
statistical point of view, the vast majority of
individuals with Asperger Syndrome will experience
repeated bullying and victimization at school and
some will suffer in the workplace as well. While Nick
Dubin's book focuses on strategies and solutions for
empowering those on the autism spectrum, he details
reasons why people (particularly children) with
Asperger's Syndrome are such easy targets for being
bullied. Below, Nick lists some of these reasons. For a
more thorough explanation of these traits and how
they correlate to high rates of bullying among the ASD
population, click here to order Nick's book on
Asperger Syndrome and Bullying......
o Low Frustration Tolerance results in a decreased
ability to function in one’s environment. Frustration
tolerance is exacerbated by an inability to deal with
sensory stimuli, perfectionism, and unpredictability.
When frustration tolerance decreases and reaches a
threshold, it can lead to a meltdown, which makes the
person stand out as being different.
o Monotropism (a word borrowed from Wendy Lawson)
makes it difficult for individuals to pay attention to
more than one piece of information at a time. This can
cause someone to miss important pieces of
information and stay “stuck” during a conversation
and can have an adverse effect on one’s social skills.
o Motor Difficulties result in a decreased ability to
perform academic tasks involving writing and
drawing. They also make physical education class
very challenging. Difficulty with motor issues easily
shows up in the playground and in the classroom.
o Gullibility causes a person to believe everything
he/she hears, setting her/himself up to be the brunt of
a joke.
o Auditory Processing Difficulties create slow
processing of auditory information that makes it hard
to formulate a quick comeback,
o Problems Reading Nonverbal Cues make it difficult to
read body language and can cause misinterpretation
of information from one’s peers. Not understanding
what seems obvious to everyone else may frustrate
peers.
o Special Interests may seem out of the norm, and
other students may find those interests boring.
o Lack of Dating Experience may be perceived by
others as someone being gay due to lack of actual
experience. This can invite nasty teasing.
o Cultural Illiteracy becomes a problem because most
conversations in adolescence revolve around the
popular culture. People with Asperger’s may get
teased for not knowing about certain topical
information.
o Lack of Imagination creates a problem in playing
games that involve pretending. Also, it causes
inappropriate responses when telling the truth is not
the best option in a social situation.
o Odd Use of Language will often make the person
sound like a “little professor” talking. This makes it
hard to relate to others at age-appropriate levels.
Home Books and DVD's About Nick Presentations Targets Contact Links
Site Map
People with Asperger Syndrome are incredibly easy
targets for being bullied in almost any educational or
workplace setting. Research shows that from a
statistical point of view, the vast majority of
individuals with Asperger Syndrome will experience
repeated bullying and victimization at school and
some will suffer in the workplace as well. While Nick
Dubin's book focuses on strategies and solutions for
empowering those on the autism spectrum, he details
reasons why people (particularly children) with
Asperger's Syndrome are such easy targets for being
bullied. Below, Nick lists some of these reasons. For a
more thorough explanation of these traits and how
they correlate to high rates of bullying among the ASD
population, click here to order Nick's book on
Asperger Syndrome and Bullying......
o Low Frustration Tolerance results in a decreased
ability to function in one’s environment. Frustration
tolerance is exacerbated by an inability to deal with
sensory stimuli, perfectionism, and unpredictability.
When frustration tolerance decreases and reaches a
threshold, it can lead to a meltdown, which makes the
person stand out as being different.
o Monotropism (a word borrowed from Wendy Lawson)
makes it difficult for individuals to pay attention to
more than one piece of information at a time. This can
cause someone to miss important pieces of
information and stay “stuck” during a conversation
and can have an adverse effect on one’s social skills.
o Motor Difficulties result in a decreased ability to
perform academic tasks involving writing and
drawing. They also make physical education class
very challenging. Difficulty with motor issues easily
shows up in the playground and in the classroom.
o Gullibility causes a person to believe everything
he/she hears, setting her/himself up to be the brunt of
a joke.
o Auditory Processing Difficulties create slow
processing of auditory information that makes it hard
to formulate a quick comeback,
o Problems Reading Nonverbal Cues make it difficult to
read body language and can cause misinterpretation
of information from one’s peers. Not understanding
what seems obvious to everyone else may frustrate
peers.
o Special Interests may seem out of the norm, and
other students may find those interests boring.
o Lack of Dating Experience may be perceived by
others as someone being gay due to lack of actual
experience. This can invite nasty teasing.
o Cultural Illiteracy becomes a problem because most
conversations in adolescence revolve around the
popular culture. People with Asperger’s may get
teased for not knowing about certain topical
information.
o Lack of Imagination creates a problem in playing
games that involve pretending. Also, it causes
inappropriate responses when telling the truth is not
the best option in a social situation.
o Odd Use of Language will often make the person
sound like a “little professor” talking. This makes it
hard to relate to others at age-appropriate levels.
Home Books and DVD's About Nick Presentations Targets Contact Links
Site Map
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Easy Targets
| The Asperger's Guru.... The official website of author and presenter Nick Dubin. |