Why Children with Autism Are More Often Targeted by Bullying – And What Adults Can Do About It
By Dru Ahlborg – Executive Director BRRC
For many families, school should be a place of learning, friendship, and growth. Yet for too many children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), school can also be a place where they are more likely to be targeted by bullying, exclusion, and social isolation.
Research consistently shows that children with ASD experience bullying at significantly higher rates than their neurotypical peers. At BRRC, over 25% of the families we have assisted have a child that has been diagnosed with ASD. In one nationally representative U.S. study, nearly half of adolescents with ASD reported being bullied during the previous school year. Other studies suggest the numbers may be even higher depending on age group and school setting.
Why does this happen?
Children with ASD often navigate the social world differently. They may interpret facial expressions, tone of voice, sarcasm, or social dynamics in ways that differ from their peers. Some children may have focused interests, communication differences, sensory sensitivities, or behaviors that make them stand out in environments where fitting in is often highly valued. Unfortunately, children who appear different are sometimes targeted by those seeking power, control, or social status.
Another important factor is friendship. Peer connection is one of the strongest protective factors against bullying. Yet many autistic children report difficulty forming or maintaining friendships, leaving them more vulnerable to exclusion or repeated mistreatment.
It is also important to recognize that some children with ASD may not immediately recognize when bullying is happening. Teasing, manipulation, or relational aggression can be subtle and confusing. A child may know something feels wrong but struggle to explain it clearly to adults.
The solution is not to ask autistic children to “blend in” or become someone they are not. The solution is to create environments where differences are understood, respected, and protected.
Adults play a critical role.
Parents, caregivers, educators, and providers can help by teaching empathy, modeling inclusion, and responding quickly when bullying behavior appears. Schools can strengthen supervision, create safe reporting systems, educate peers about neurodiversity, and ensure that inclusion means belonging and not simply placement in a classroom.
Caregivers can also watch for signs that a child may be experiencing bullying, including school avoidance, anxiety, sudden emotional distress, lost belongings, changes in mood, or reluctance to talk about peers.
Most importantly, children with ASD need adults who believe them, support them, and advocate for them. Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and connected.
At Bullying Recovery Resource Center, we know that healing begins when children and families are seen, heard, and supported. By increasing awareness around the bullying risks autistic children face, we can move from misunderstanding to compassion and from harm to hope.
