Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk attended the launch of guide booklets prepared for the parents of students with special needs.

 

Selçuk stressed that the Ministry has initiated a very special project about how school administrators and parents should cooperate for students with special needs adding that, "We all know that well-established cooperation between school administration and parents make the lives of students with special needs easier and more comfortable. Participation of these parents to the learning and treatment process of students with special needs is very important."

 

Noting that parents must have certain knowledge in order to make their children's life easier, Selçuk stated, "Parents of special children have a special responsibility. We are aware that the lives of families change when they have a child with special needs. Our duty is to understand, help and support them. Within this framework, we have to eliminate the barriers in front of these children and offer them the education context they need and make their lives easier.... We are reinforcing our relations with their parents. It is very important for us to see that these special children have a place in the society.  

 

Minister Selçuk underlined that guidance and research centers made educational assessment of students with special needs and transfer them to the suitable education institutions according to the results of this assessment.

 

Noting that the contribution of parents is very important for the quality of educational services provided to their children, Selçuk went on to say that: "This project is very important. Within the framework of projects we carried out with UNICEF, we are preparing books in order to give more objective information and raise awareness about language and speaking deficiencies, learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, hyperactivity disorder and visual and hearing deficiencies.  Contribution of experts in these fields is very important. They helped us to answer crucial questions such as the recent development concerning this issue in the World, and sources."

 

Stating that guide booklets will help parents and teachers learn more about children with special education needs, Minister Selçuk said, "We are also planning to organize seminars and training programs for parents. These programs will allow the standardization of training. We will be able to develop standards training and a common language."

 

Selçuk stated that the booklets are translated into English and Arabic for foreigners living in Turkey and longtime guests adding that, "Sets of guide booklets are sent to 252 guidance and research centers and a digital version is available in EBA. It is also available as a mobile application as a part of "I am Special, I am in Education" project."

 

Noting that they aim at reinforcing cooperation with parents, Selçuk thanked those who made contributions to the preparation of these booklets.

 

Selçuk had a video conference meeting with parents of students with special needs who are living in Isparta, İstanbul, Kütahya, Samsun, Şanlıurfa and Van as a part of the launch of the guide booklets.

 

Families expressed their positive views about this support and thanked those who contributed to the preparation of the booklet. They also asked the Ministry to prepare a guidance booklet for the teachers of students with special needs. A family stated that there is a need for a school for students with special needs in Kütahya.

 

The guide booklet includes information for parents whose children have visual, psychical and mental deficiencies, autism spectrum, language and speaking as well as hearing deficiencies.

 

For guide booklets please click.