This is something all educators should be more aware of. I cannot fathom how it is allowed.  

Dmarie,

My son is 12 and doesn't ready expressions or facial ques. He has PDD-NOS, he has had problems but I think with my son he has come to terms with the kids who pick on him. He says mom I am unique and they don't get it. He does have close friends who stick up for him along with his sister who has basically told kids you pick on my brother you deal with me. (she is 2 years younger and out weighs him by 50 lbs). The best thing I can tell you is be the bad mom and do what you need to do. hugs to you   

HI there.
I also cannot read people. But what helps me, is eyes. If someone is mad their eyes change. also if they are making fun of me. I cannot read actions, or emotions at all, well, maybe a little bit. But eyes. I even made flash cards for myself at one point to remember emotions and eyes.
Bless you, and hugs to you and yours.  

i have a daughter not diagnosed and when she went to school in kinder-garden they did not understand her so they took her out of class made her own class room off of the nurses office put computer in the room and an aid so she was completely isolated and thought it was ok the school system really upsets me . So we moved she went to a different school for first grade and she was doing so well unfortunately she aged out of the program she was in and they shipped her back to the same school that she was in for kinder-garden for second grade and here it starts all over again except my daughter is now coming home crying every night saying she will never have any friends because no one will play with her and it breaks my heart i went to the school and they say since my daughter tries to kiss the other kids and chase them she is the one to get in trouble .one child told my daughter that she was going to cut her head off if she didn't stay away from her so that statement was stuck in her head for weeks her repeating word for word i went to the school again they said they will talk to the other student .need help please write back thanks for reading   

I am a mother of a 6 year old with Asperger's and he has no clue that he is being bullied. He had one incident as a Kindergartener last year. I just happen to show up at the school when they were bringing him in from the school yard with his face all scratched. The teacher said he wouldn't say what happened. I asked him and he said he fell. When I finally was able to push him for more info he finally stated that he was pushed. He claimed that his face didn't get scratched because he was pushed only because he fell. I had to explain to him that he wouldn't have fallen if he wasn't pushed. He thought it was his fault and that he was going to be in trouble. I pulled him out of school for 2 weeks until we were able to have a meeting with all the school staff that is involved with his care. (Principal, teacher, Spec. Ed teacher, Phychiatrist, and several others) I eventually pulled him out of that school because they told me that the school couldn't help my child!! We live in an inner city school district and the other school closest to my house (4 blocks) has him in an Autistic Support class now and has none of the problems from the old school. From my almost daily visits to the school board and school the principal is no longer at that school and they have completely changed how they handle problems. Not like it did any good for my son, but maybe it will help the other children who were having the same issues. I'd say if you can..try to make yourself a contant person in the school and let them know you won't put up with the bullying!! I also have a child on our block who bullied him. My son comes right in the house when the boy is seen and alerts me. I then sit outside and watch him play to be able to be a witness!!! The childs parents always said it wasn't their son. And of course it was one child's word against another so now I watch. I apologize for the long post!!!  

I have a son that is 14 with autism. He just started high school. He wants to make friends so badly. He doesn't talk hardly at all, but wants to shake the hands of the students he finds interesting and sometimes walks up to the pretty girls between classes and wants a hug. He has been pushed, shoved, and hit, and harshly restrained because he is insistant on the hand shake or a hug. And is now being bullied. He needs an assistant to make sure he gets from one class to the next without getting hurt. I am having trouble with the school because he needs more assistance. The school will not provide more assistance for my son because they are under staffed and can't afford to hire more assistance because of budget cuts. Well my son is being bullied and hurt due to cut backs and not enough staff. I have been dealing with this issue quite a bit lately. I feel like there needs to be something done within the school system to make autism, adhd, asperger's etc more exposed so the students so they are more informed about the special needs kids. There almost needs to be a class that every student should go through for awareness and education. There needs to be more sympathy and understanding. My son was physically assauted because a 250 lb 6'2" student didn't know my son was just being friendly. The student got called into the office after the assault and was asked why he did what he did...the student replied "I didn't know he was special needs or autistic." It really wasn't the students fault, my son just wouldn't let go of him. My son just kept hugging this guy. So, I would like to see the school system educate the student body even more about children with these disorders. Autism is on the rise big time...it's all about education and awareness. Thanks so much for talking about this issue, it really hits home right now.   

ha thats funny you say that. I feel like i'm being a 'bad mom' so much of the time...but I guess I'm not the only mom who feels like that ;)  

I don't think there is no other way but to be a "bad mom" right now...he will understand later in life. Keep up being the great parent that you are!  

Thank you so much everyone for all of your input .... I believe at this point the only thing I can do is allow myself to be the "bad mom" and hope he understands later in life I was protecting him. And thanks PChallab for the link! I think the most difficult thing is knowing he really doesn't understand when someone is being mean.... we are working on that. Again Thanks !!!!  

horrible. :-(  

horrible. :-(  

I could definitely feel the pain of the father. Breaks my heart. :-(

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4341351/father-threatens-bus-bullies/  

I have to agree. Been watching our local news, reading articles on cnn.com...way too much stuff out there about bullying. It is way too common and happens way too often.  

We have a 17 year old with Asperger's and have gone through bullying and still going through it. :-( As a parent all I could suggest is just stay strong. Show your son support. God bless both you and Aidan and things will get better!  

Here it is guys...

http://www.theautismnews.com/2010/10/15/11-year-old-speaks-out-against-bullying/  

Just recently saw something on cnn on bullying...will try to find it for you guys. So horrible what is going on today in the world with all of this. So difficult for our kids.  

Something has to be done by the school systems in regards to Bullying! It is just a must  

It seems like all of us are dealing with bullying...I hate this.  

God bless you and Aidan and I do understand. I have a 16 year old with aspergers and we have definitely experienced are fair share of bullying and still experiencing it. We have a younger one with mild autism as well.

@Mike, looking at the link. Will take a close look at this book. Thank you.  

My son is also nine years and undiagnosed. We suspect Aspergers. This is the first year that he has ever interacted at all. And, even with the interaction some of the things he comes home and tells me about who included him in an activity in school and WHY.... scare me to death. He is never aware when he is being used. But, I will say at least this year he has began to have "a feeling" something isn't right even if he is unsure of why he feels that way. Unfortunatley he still plays with the bullying children until they pretty much make a fool of him. He almost gave up earlier this year because he was so frustrated with not being able to read the faces and actions of the children. It's tough but if it helps I do understand.  

I'm so sorry to hear about what your son has to deal with. I work in a school system and we are currently reading a book on bullying as part of our professional learning group. The book is well written and might offer some ideas on what to do. Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Asperger-Syndrome-Bullying-Strategies-Solutions/dp/1843108461

I have a son who is HFA and it worries me to think that he too might be the target of a bully and yet not have a clue as to what is going on.
  

That is terrible how other children treat children who are disabled or are different. Nobody gets a lesson on this until a family member is disabled.  

It bothers me to hear stories like this... :-(  

I'm speechless...But will get back to you as soon as I come up with something. God bless you, Aidan, and your family. Everything will turn out ok...