When students struggle to communicate, they often struggle to connect. 

For many, those gaps in expression and understanding can make them more vulnerable to bullying. They might not have the words to ask for help, the confidence to set boundaries, or the awareness to recognize when something isn’t right.

Speech-language pathologists, special educators, counselors, and school psychologists are uniquely positioned to change that. By teaching communication and self-advocacy skills, we can give students the tools to protect themselves, seek support, and build resilience that lasts far beyond the classroom.

Why Communication Skills Are Central to Bullying Prevention

Research consistently shows that communication difficulties increase the risk of bullying. Students with developmental language disorders, autism, or fluency differences are more likely to experience peer victimization and social isolation. When they can’t easily express what happened or understand social cues, it becomes harder to respond or ask for help.

This makes our work as specialists essential. Teaching social communication isn’t just about language. It’s about safety, connection, and confidence. When students can name their feelings, describe an experience, or ask for help, they begin to take ownership of their voice.

Helping students build these skills also promotes independence. Instead of relying on adults to interpret what’s happening, students learn to recognize and respond on their own. Over time, that autonomy helps reduce helplessness and strengthens their sense of control.

Teaching Students to Recognize and Label Bullying

Students can’t respond effectively if they can’t first recognize bullying. Understanding the difference between bullying, teasing, and simple conflict is a foundational skill.

Start with Clear, Concrete Definitions

Younger students need a simple definition such as, “Bullying is when someone keeps being mean on purpose and it does not stop.” From there, we can teach the “3 Ps”: Purposeful, Persistent, and Power Imbalance. These help students identify patterns of behavior and recognize when something crosses the line from conflict to bullying.

For older students, add nuance. Discuss intent, repetition, and the difference between one-time teasing and targeted, ongoing actions. The goal is to give every student a language framework they can use to describe what they experience or observe.

Use Visual and Interactive Tools

Visual supports make abstract ideas concrete. Sorting activities are particularly effective. Students can categorize examples into Bullying, Not Bullying, or Needs More Information.

A scenario like “Someone rolls their eyes when you answer a question” might belong in Needs More Information, while “A classmate calls you the same hurtful name every day” clearly fits under Bullying. The discussion that follows is just as important as the sorting. Asking “Why did you put it there?” or “What clue told you this was bullying?” helps deepen understanding.

Connect to Real-Life Settings

Once students grasp the basics, extend the practice into realistic examples. Discuss situations that might occur in familiar spaces such as the cafeteria, playground, bus, or group projects. These settings make the learning relevant and increase the likelihood that students will apply it when a similar situation arises.

Building Communication Tools for Real-World Response

Recognizing bullying is only the first step. Students also need practical communication strategies to respond in the moment or afterward.

Model Assertive Communication

Assertive communication combines calm confidence with respect. Teach students how posture, eye contact, and tone work together to convey strength. “I” statements are a natural fit here. Phrases like “I do not like that” or “I want you to stop” allow students to express themselves without escalating the situation.

Mnemonics can make these strategies memorable. Two examples used in therapy and classroom lessons include:

• L.A.W. stands for Label it, Assert yourself, Walk away
  
• STOP stands for Say it, Tone strong, Own your space, Practice calm

These simple acronyms give students clear steps to follow when emotions run high.

Prepare Go-To Responses

When a student experiences bullying, quick access to safe, practiced phrases can make all the difference. Provide a list of short responses that convey confidence without aggression:

• “Stop, that is not ok.”
  
• “Can you please talk nicely?”
  
• “I have a right to be here.”
  
• Walk away and tell an adult.

Practice these lines repeatedly, using games and role-play to make them automatic. Vary tone and delivery by having students say them as a whisper, a robot voice, or a dramatic stage line. This keeps the practice light and helps reduce anxiety.

Practice Help-Seeking and Upstander Skills

Some students worry that telling an adult means they are tattling. Reframe this by teaching that asking for help is a form of advocacy, not reporting for punishment. Discuss trusted adults in different settings, such as teachers, aides, counselors, or even older peers, and when to approach them.

You can also teach the difference between a bystander and an upstander. Bystanders watch. Upstanders act safely to support a peer, report concerns, or diffuse tension. Helping students see themselves as capable of stepping in for others builds community and empathy.

After discussing how students can be upstanders, give them a visual to reinforce those choices. The free Handling Teasing and Bullying poster clearly defines the four types of bullying and reminds students what to do if they see or experience it.

Scaffolding Strategies for Diverse Learners

Every student can learn to advocate for themselves, but the supports may look different depending on their communication needs.

Adapt for Limited Expressive Language

For students with limited speech or who use AAC, pre-program short responses like “Stop,” or “I do not like that.” Give them a place with one-tap access. For students using visuals or sentence starters, printable cue cards can help them remember what to say when they are nervous.

Reinforce Through Stories and Role-Play

Social narratives and short scripts can model both sides of an interaction, showing what the student can say and how adults might respond. Reinforcing these steps through stories helps make the process predictable. Follow each practice with a debrief: “How did that feel?” or “What worked best?” Reflection turns repetition into insight.

Collaborate Across the School Team

For self-advocacy skills to stick, they need to be reinforced beyond the therapy room. Collaborate with teachers, aides, and families to prompt and praise assertive communication in natural settings. A quick note home or hallway check-in can remind students that everyone is on the same team.

Embedding Self-Advocacy in IEP Goals

Integrating bullying response and communication goals into IEPs ensures that students have structured, measurable opportunities to practice.

Sample annual goals from your materials include:

• The student will identify bullying behavior and use at least two appropriate strategies to respond, such as saying “stop,” walking away, or seeking adult help, in 4/5 practice opportunities.
  
• The student will express personal needs or preferences respectfully in structured and unstructured settings in 80% of opportunities.

Short-term objectives might include labeling bullying versus conflict scenarios, role-playing assertive language, and demonstrating help-seeking skills with teacher prompts. By formalizing these targets, educators ensure consistent support and accountability.

Creating a Culture of Communication and Safety

Bullying prevention is not a single lesson. It is a culture built through everyday communication. When we model direct, respectful language and give students space to practice it, we are reinforcing that every voice has value.

Specialists can also extend their impact by sharing strategies with colleagues. Hosting brief in-service sessions or team meetings can help general education staff recognize the signs of bullying and support students’ communication strategies consistently.

Most importantly, we remind students that speaking up is a strength. Every time they use a learned phrase or ask for help, they are reinforcing that they deserve respect and safety. Those moments build resilience, and over time, resilience becomes empowerment.