House Education Committee
HB 2310
Representative Clay Aurand, Chair
February 14, 2007

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony today regarding HB 2310.  My name is Jennifer Schwartz and I am the Director of the Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living (KACIL).  KACIL represents Centers for Independent Living (CILs) across Kansas.  KACIL is driven by the following mission statement:  To coordinate efforts within Kansas and the United States to the extent that these efforts will further independent living for all.  KACIL will advocate for the civil rights of Kansans with disabilities. 
 
Centers for Independent Living provide services to people with any disability, of all ages.  CILs provide information and assistance to businesses and other entities in the community to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to live, work, and play in all aspects of community life.  

KACIL comes in support of HB 2310.  This bill brings to light the issue of bullying in schools.  Children with disabilities often end up in situations in schools where they are easily made fun of, and often times the brunt of hurtful jokes.  In our efforts to make communities accessible for individuals with disabilities issues such as bullying must be addressed.  Often times we work to address structural barriers, but the attitude is still there.  People (children) with disabilities have a history of being some of the most oppressed, with the barriers we constantly face in life.  Bullying is yet one more way to oppress children with disabilities.  In some of the research I did when preparing testimony on this legislation, about 1 in 12 children experience some sort of bullying, which are pretty astounding numbers.  But, in the little research they have concerning children with disabilities and bullying, the occurrence changes to 1 in 10!  I have attached an article concerning bullying and children with disabilities.  The article is written to parents, and gives ideas of what families can do if their child is dealing with bullying.  I would draw your attention to the bullet on page 2 of this handout that states:
‘As the US Department of Education (2000) recognizes, ‘creating a supportive school climate is the most important step in preventing harassment.’  Work with the school to help establish a system-wide bullying prevention program that includes support systems for bullied children.’

This bill does require some additional work of schools, but it brings to light a significant issue that needs to be addressed with children.  This issue needs to be stopped in children’s lives, BEFORE they are adults who can cause even more harm. 

We would ask for this committee’s consideration of passing this legislation that will work to address a significant issue in the lives of Kansas school children.

Thank your for your time and careful consideration.  Please feel free to contact me with questions or for additional information.

Jennifer Schwartz
Executive Director
jennifers@kacil.org