Privacy Education for Children with Special Needs

In cooperation with the Bakırköy Rehberlik ve Araştırma Merkezi, the Department of Special Education at İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim Üniversitesi Faculty of Education organized a seminar titled “From Body Boundaries to Safe Behaviors: Privacy Education for Children with Special Needs” for teachers of Nefus Nakipoğlu Özel Eğitim Uygulama Okulu.
The seminar was delivered by Hatice Tanık, who addressed the importance of privacy education in the training of individuals with special needs. During her presentation, Tanık emphasized that children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder may have difficulties interpreting social cues and communication, which can increase the risk of abuse. She highlighted the importance of teachers adopting protective and awareness-raising approaches in response to this risk.
The seminar also covered topics such as teaching children the correct anatomical names of body parts, structuring privacy education through daily life routines, explaining the distinction between appropriate and inappropriate touch using concrete materials, and helping children develop an awareness that they have the right to make decisions about their own bodies.