Melrose Girl Benefits From Bullying Prevention Program At Boston Children's Hospital
BOSTON (CBS) -- Looking at life through the eyes of Siobhan Nunley was painful and lonely.
"It's really hard. I don't like to talk about it," Siobhan said.
Siobhan suffers from a rare sensory processing disorder called tactile defensive. As a result she has to wear baggy clothes and says that made her a prime target for bullies.
"I used to buy my classmates food, so they would hang with me. When I stopped buying them food then they spit food in my face," Siobhan said.
The bullying became so bad for Siobhan she was ostracized by the entire school.
That's when she was referred to a program at Boston Children's Hospital called Bullying And Cyber-bullying Prevention And Advocacy Collaborative or, BACPAC.
"All the classic methods of bullying were being used against her. She really didn't have a friend to be found," Dr. Peter Raffalli said.
Dr. Raffalli is a child neurologist and director of BACPAC which focuses on prevention, detection and intervention.
"The other thing that's crucial is that we helped her develop friendships inside and outside of school and discover extra-curricular activities.
For Siobhan, the program also put her in a new school and helped her discover her gifts in photography and love for animals.
"The minute I walked in there I felt so welcomed. They helped me with my tactile defensive and gave me money to buy new clothes," Siobhan said. With camera in hand, Siobhan is looking at life with a much clearer lens.
