From Being Bullied for Having Learning Disabilities to Television: How Autumn Blevins Persevered and Triumphed.
This article is being reprinted with permission by the author.
There is one constant in the lives of small children these days and that is the massively popular PBS television show, Sprit Scribe. It features children from a Brooklyn neighborhood solving mysteries with the help from a “haunted” book. The show has been a ratings success for the public broadcaster and a second season is set to begin filming this summer. However, it is the lead child actress that has garnered the most attention.
Autumn Blevins stars as Lexi Fransen, the musically inclined leader of the group, but the behind the scenes story is perhaps more incredible than the fantasy depicted on the show. Blevins, 12, was bullied and harassed for one sole reason. She has learning disabilities.
“The bullying started last fall and it was unrelenting. Everyday I had to face my bully. It was like she hated me for just, I don’t know, just for being in the same school.” Autumn admits in the middle of signing autographs at the annual horror convention, held in the Jacob Javits Center.
The harassment began when Autumn, now outspoken about being in Special Education classes, received extra time on a test (the extra time is given to students with learning disabilities and is mandated by law). Another student, however, felt this was preferential treatment and openly challenged this in the classroom.
“She asked our teacher, right in the middle of class, why I was given extra time on a test (that information is private). It’s not like she really wanted to know why, she already knew the answer. She just wanted to humiliate me in front of everyone.” Autumn told me.
The bullying transpired for months with Autumn reluctant to involve school officials.
“I just didn’t want it to hurt my career. At the time, I tried to hide my disabilities. My career was stalling after Zombie Graveyard. I was mainly doing commercials and stuff like that. I felt like admitting to having disabilities would make it even harder to get roles.”
This passive response to her tormentor failed to resolve matters as the persecution intensified.
“It got worse. A lot worse. One time, she followed me to my special education class (I’m in a resource room for Math but mainstreamed for my other classes). She actually sat in the class and told us that the work was ‘easy and she couldn’t believe we were so behind.’ It was basically taunting us for being slow.”
“Not only that but she wrote the word ‘retard’ on a signed photograph I gave to another student. It was horrible. I didn’t want to go to school anymore and I was sick all the time. Just the thought of being in the same class as her.”
The specifics of what happened next are still being disputed by the school. Apparently, Autumn’s tormentor somehow gained access to her IEP, Individualized Education Program, which are written for students with disabilities for the purpose of detailing the list of accommodations needed. She then planned to read the IEP in front of the entire school.
“She did read it, some of it anyway. But all my friends confronted her on stage, in the auditorium, and, well, I finally stood up to her. I gave a speech about how she was being hateful and then I turned my back on her. After that, everyone left her, standing on the stage and screaming.”
Things improved dramatically after that. Autumn and her bully were placed in different classes. Further, Autumn’s tormentor was suspended for two weeks. And, finally, Autumn was cast in the Spirit Scribe show. Essentially, changing her fortunes overnight.
“It was just really awesome. I still can’t believe it. I’m just so thankful for the opportunity.”
This professional success inevitably led Autumn to advocacy. The young actress now speaks at conferences and in schools to educate others on disabilities.
“I want anyone who is reading this and being bullied for just being you, please speak out. And tell someone. Harassment is never okay and it needs to stop.”
Autumn Blevins, Samuel Thomas, and Lydia Vasquez star in Spirit Scribe. Now streaming and airing on PBS weekday afternoons. Check your local listings.
