Hi i have been discriminated against for ages in school because of a speach impediment ihave. everyone is saying it is discrimination but how can i make sure i just really dunno the students who do it take the mick out of my speach and copy it al the time and they also call me stupid alot. What can i do & Is this actually discrimination becasue if it is then it means i have been discriminated against all my life doesnt it because i have been treated like this at every school i have been to. Can you help ? Thanks
Sam
Hello,
Thank you for your message, its great that you have written to me. Youve taken a really brave step towards getting some support. You mentioned that you have a speech impediment and you feel that you have been discriminated against in school because of this.
It sounds like this has been going on for a long time. I imagine that its quite upsetting and hurtful to hear people say unkind things. No one has the right to take the mick out of your speech, to copy your speech or to call you names. What they are doing is wrong and a form of bullying. You deserve all the help you would like to try and get this to stop.
Youve asked me if this is actually discrimination. Youve told me that people are treating you differently because of the way you talk, so youre right, that is discrimination. It certainly shouldnt be happening.
What is happening is not your fault. There are lots of different reasons why people become bullies. Sometimes they do it deliberately and sometimes they dont realise how unkind they are being. However, that doesnt make it OK for them to act like that.
Talking about what is happening and how it makes you feel can be really helpful. Unless you try to talk to people about what is going on, they may not know and so they cant support you. You might like to think about the idea of talking to someone that you like and trust such as a family member or teacher. Your school should take it very seriously if you tell them you are being discriminated against.
Lots of young people find starting to write a bullying journal can be a good way of expressing how you are feeling. You can write down things like when the bullying happens, who it was, what they said and how it made you feel. If you did decide to talk to someone about what is happening you could use this journal as evidence. You might also like to have a look at the bullying page which has more information about bullying and ideas of what you can do.
You should not have to go through this on your own. Maybe you might like to contact ChildLine by calling free on 0800 1111 (which wont appear on the phone bill) or you could log in for a 1-2-1 chat with a counsellor. ChildLine also has a bullying message board which you might like to have a look at. Its a place where young people who are going through similar situations can help and support each other.
Well done for writing to me.
Take care,
Sam
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