Geraci delivers bullying/autism presentation

College of Education Associate Professor Laura M. Geraci delivered a webinar presentation, “Bullying: The Impact on the Autism Spectrum Community,” to faculty, university students and parents at a forum on autism sponsored by the Institute of Special Education and Psychology and held at Moscow City University on March 12.

In her presentation, Dr. Geraci outlined how individuals in the autism spectrum experience a higher rate of bullying than neurotypical individuals and described the impact that has on mental health, trauma and learning. She also discussed strategies for reducing bullying and building trauma informed classrooms.

Bullying is present in public and private schools, particularly in socially deprived areas, with 16 percent of girls and 17.5 percent of boys becoming victims of bullying two or more times a month, in developed countries, Geraci noted.