"In term 1 I saw red when another child slapped her across the face."
Mrs Griffiths raised the incidents with the school principal.
"She really stood up and took notice of what was going on. After about 40 minutes she gave me an A4 piece of paper filled with information and ways to move forward."
The school has given Mrs Griffith's daughter a job in the library. She is now involved in the kapa haka group and has begun to play her first sport, volleyball.
"What they're doing for her is wonderful. It's really heart-warming to have a school that supports you and tries to make school life as easy as possible for kids with special needs because they have a hard enough time as it is," Mrs Griffiths said.
"I know of quite a few families who have experienced bullying with their special needs kids. I'm not the only one ... and I'm speaking out on behalf of a lot of people because I want to see a difference."
She supported the recommendations made in the Disability Convention annual report, which highlighted major issues facing New Zealanders living with disabilities. Two of the recommendations were implementing anti-bullying programmes in schools and promoting inclusive education for children with special needs.
Another Western Bay parent, who did not want to be named, said one of her two special needs children was often targeted by bullies.
But after transferring her child from the school, she has noticed "an incredible improvement" in her child and the attitudes of other students.