Creating Awareness of Sexual Abuse in Children with Special Education Needs: Depending on the Opinions of Teachers of the Mentally Handicapped

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to determine what students and families should do in order to prevent sexual abuse in students who need special education, depending on the opinions of teachers of mentally handicapped students. The qualitative research technique was used in this research. The study population of the research consisted of the teachers of mentally handicapped individuals working in Turkey/Konya province. The study population included 35 teachers. Semi-structure interview method was used as data collection method in collecting data in the research. According to the results, it is evident that individuals ought to be taught about their private parts, private parts in their bodies, and they ought to be made conscious about the fact that no one can touch these private parts in order to raise awareness about sexual abuse in individuals with special education needs. In order to stop sexual abuse by raising awareness in families of individuals with special education needs, it is necessary for families to acquire skills in terms of knowing their children, determining their needs and consulting an expert periodically. In order to raise awareness in the community about the sexual abuse in individuals with special education needs, the teachers express that all families should be trained, seminars should be organized on the issue and media ought to do its part to create awareness.