Bullying Prevention for Neurodivergent Students

“Neurodivergent” is a big word that means that a person’s brain works in its own special way. A student who is neurodivergent might learn, talk, or play a little differently - and that’s okay. Some kids may have an Individualized Education Plan called an “IEP” or 504 plan, and some don’t. Either way, everyone has strengths and the right to feel safe at school.

Helping kids who are neurodivergent means helping them be themselves, not making everyone act the same way.

“Neurodivergent” describes someone whose brain learns or processes information differently. This includes students with formal supports and students without, who still experience other differences or disabilities. These differences don’t limit their strengths, potential, or right to a safe, supportive learning environment. Supporting students with neurodivergence means helping them succeed as they are, not trying to make everyone think, learn, or communicate the same way.

Neurodivergent kids can be bullied every day. That can hurt their learning, friendships, and feelings of safety. Kids with disabilities are 3 to 4 times more likely to be bullied.

When people don’t understand differences, kids may be teased or left out just for being different — even if no one meant to be mean.

Bullying someone because of a disability is against the law in a bigger way. Schools must help if bullying makes a student feel unsafe or stops them from learning.

For students with neurodivergence, bullying can be a daily challenge that affects their learning, friendships, and safety. Students with disabilities are 3 to 4 times more likely to be bullied than their peers.

When differences in learning, communication, or interactions aren’t understood, students with neurodivergence may face exclusion, teasing, or bullying for seeming “different, ” even when no harm is intended. Bullying a student based on a protected characteristic, including a disability, is serious under the law, and schools must act when bullying affects a student’s safety or ability to learn.

Bullying is when someone keeps hurting another person to feel powerful. 4 out of 10 kids in grades TK-5 say they have been bullied. Bullying can be hitting, namecalling or teasing, or breaking things, but can also be spreading rumors or leaving someone out on purpose.

Signs a student may be bullied:

• In class: grades go down, or they don’t want to go to school.
• With friends: they hide who they really are to fit in, pull away from friends, or get angry a lot.
• On their body: injuries or missing/damaged belongings.

Bullying is when someone repeatedly and purposely hurts another person to have power over them. In 2025, nearly 1 in 4 middle schoolers and up to 1 in 6 high school students have been bullied. Bullying behaviors can be direct–such as name-calling or pushing–or indirect–such as spreading rumors, leaving someone out, or sending hurtful messages online.

Signs a student may be bullied:

• Classroom cues: declining academic performance or skipping school
• Social cues: “masking” to fit in; withdrawing from friends, avoiding social events, “acting out” behaviors
• Physical clues: unexplained injuries or lost/damaged belongings

• Try not to show that it bothers you
• Don’t argue; it can make things worse
• Stay away from the person bullying you
• Tell a trusted adult (parent, teacher, counselor, principal)
• Ask friends for help and stay close to them
• If it happens online, write it down and take a picture of the screen
• Block anyone who is mean to you online, and tell a parent right away

• Don’t react and do your best to act like it doesn’t bother you. Don’t argue, as it can make things worse
• Avoid the student as much as possible
• Talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or school administrator
• Ask supportive friends for help and stay with safe peer groups
• Write down and screenshot what happened if it happens online
• Block anyone who is bothering you

• Listen, but don’t gossip
• Stay by their side and show you care, maybe ask them to hang out
• Help them get away: say “Let’s go” and walk with them
• Check on them later
• Tell a trusted adult

• Stand by the student’s side so they know someone cares. Students who bully often back down when peers defend someone.
• Include the student being bullied. Invite them to hang out with you and your friends.
• Listen and keep it private. Validate their feelings and don’t share their story with others.
• Help them walk away from incidents of bullying and check on them afterward.
• Get help from adults if it becomes a serious concern.

• Don’t share personal information online, like your address or phone number
• Use privacy settings on apps and games
• Stay close to friends and trusted adults so you don’t feel alone
• If you feel scared or unsafe, go to a safe place at school, like the office or a counselor’s room

• Stay close to friends you trust and supportive role models so you don’t feel alone.
• If you feel scared or unsafe, go to a safe place at school, like an office or a counselor’s room, until an adult can help you.
• Don’t share your personal information online, such as your address or phone number.
• Use privacy settings to keep your accounts safer.

No. Speaking up about bullying is the right thing to do.

• You should not get in trouble for telling an adult
• Adults are there to keep you safe
• Schools have rules to protect kids who report bullying
• In California, school staff are required to take reports seriously and respond.

When students speak up, are kind, and help each other, they make their school safer for everyone.

• Peers might get upset, but it’s important stop bullying from continuing and causing further harm.
• Adults should not get students in trouble for reporting bullying.
• Schools have rules and responsibilities. to protect students who speak up and ensure no one is unkind to them for reporting bullying.
• In California, school staff must take reports seriously and cannot punish you for speaking up.
• By speaking up, being kind, and working together, students make schools safer for everyone.