Recovery
Nobody wants to be a victim
Children and young people can be perceived as ‘victims’ because they have a learning disability. Most young people don’t like being branded a ‘victim’. It can erode self-esteem and make them feel helpless, which makes it harder to recover when things go wrong.
Calling a child a 'victim' when they experience bullying can make this worse.
We have all recovered from challenges and experiences in our lives, big and small. As adults we need to be aware that all children and young people are able to recover from the impact of bullying and lead a healthy, fulfilling life.
The four key elements of Recovery are:
- Hope: that a better life is possible and achievable
- Discovery: or to rediscover a sense of meaning in life
- Change: that potential for change is possible
- Control: to be given a say in decisions that affect you
To learn more about Recovery click here to visit the respectme website
Recovery for children and young people with learning disabilities
Recovery is Individual
There is no ‘right way’ to recover – everyone will have a different path to recovery, regardless of whether they have a learning disability. Asking a child or young person what support they feel they need will help you to support them in a way that works for them.
Read Louise's story to see how one young person with a learning disability was supported to recover
Knowledge is Power
Children and young people with learning disabilities sometimes feel they are not well-informed about decisions that affect them. Updating them on progress about how bullying behaviour is being addressed will build their Hope that positive change is taking place and offers an element of Control by giving them opportunities to have a say in key decisions.
Recovery Takes Time
You can’t put a fixed time-scale on recovery. Bullying behaviour can have short-term and long-term impacts. Some children and young people with learning disabilities will recover very quickly while others will need more time.
Praise Works
Children and young people with learning disabilities often feel that there is a lot of focus on what they can't do, rather than what they can. Recognise and reward the progress children make in their own recovery, whether they have been bullied or been involved in bullying behaviour, to encourage and build confidence in their abilities.
Building Confidence
Everyone can develop resilience, confidence and assertiveness. It is natural to be protective of a young person who is being bullied, especially if they have a learning disability, but good intentions can lead some adults to be overbearing. This can strip a child or young person’s confidence and independence. Working with children to build their own skills and self-belief will help them recover and make them less vulnerable to bullying behaviour in future.
Rebuilding self-esteem
|