For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the internet has both benefits and risks. To help families keep their children safe online this UK Disability History Month, the NSPCC has provided the following advice.
The internet can be an amazing place for children with special educational needs and disabilities. It gives them the chance to learn at their own pace, connect with others, and enjoy their interests in a way that feels safe and manageable.
Familiar apps and games, for instance, can feel like more predictable situations and be less overwhelming than the offline world. But, just like with offline experiences, there are risks online.
What’s more, some children with SEND can be more vulnerable to them because of challenges with communication, understanding social norms, emotional regulation or the grasping of key concepts like trust and safety.
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What are some of the online risks for children with SEND?
These vulnerabilities can leave them open to everything from online exploitation, cyberbullying and social exclusion to harmful content, misinformation and excessive screen time.
For example, challenges around abstract thinking or interpreting intent mean they may find it harder to recognise unsafe or misleading content. Distinguishing between opinion and fact, therefore, can become a difficult task, as can recognising deceptive behaviour or false intentions, and interpreting tone, emojis or sarcasm.
All of this makes responding to online communication more challenging, leaving them susceptible to being pressured, tricked and targeted. This could lead to them sending inappropriate images and videos or falling victim to fake offers, prizes and in-game purchases.
When it comes to online content, harmful algorithms that suggest inappropriate content can be a challenge to get away from too, especially if your child tends to fixate on certain topics.
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What’s more, young people with SEND may struggle to identify false or misleading information, resulting in them taking content either too literally or out of context.
This can have both financial and physical ramifications, as they may not recognise when being pressured to spend money or engage in competitive online behaviour.
As a result, individuals can be at risk of excessive screen time from gaming or apps, which can impact sleep, mood and physical wellbeing.
Finally, emotional vulnerabilities such as loneliness or low self-esteem can lead young people with SEND to make unsafe choices online.
These outcomes can be exacerbated by language barriers or trust issues, making it difficult to communicate their worries or situation to a safe adult.
How can parents keep their child with SEND safe online?
Having laid out some of the online risks for children with SEND, here is an easy-to-use guide for parents looking to help their child enjoy the online world safely.
1. Supervise and stay nearby
Decide if your child needs one-to-one supervision when using devices. Some children may always need this, while others might just need regular check-ins. Try to keep devices in shared spaces, rather than behind closed doors, and regularly check in on what they are doing online.
2. Use clear language and visuals
Keep explanations short and simple. Use pictures, diagrams or videos to help explain things like why it’s not safe to share personal info or talk to strangers online. You can find some activities to complete together on the NSPCC website.
3. Set a few clear rules
Make three to five simple rules together, such as never sharing passwords or personal details. Create a family agreement with rules for all family members and review them regularly. Agree on screen time limits or the number of games allowed, then explain why these limits are important.
4. Talk about safe adults
Help your child know who they can go to if something they see online makes them uncomfortable. You could encourage them to name five people they could go to, counting these out on one hand. This can be a useful way to learn and can help you identify safe adults in their lives, whether at home, in school or more widely, like at Childline.
5. Check in regularly
Ask clear, direct questions about what they’re doing online and who they’re talking to, then praise them when they make safe and healthy choices. You could use tools like a ‘one-page profile’ to keep track of their favourite apps and games together.
6. Use parental controls
Set up privacy settings and parental controls on all devices and apps. Explain to your child that these are there to help keep them safe – not to spoil their fun. Use guides like Vodafone’s Digital Parenting Pro to help.
How can you contact the NSPCC?
Finally, if you are worried about your child online, then call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 for more advice.
Your child can also talk to a Childline counsellor by phone (0800 1111) or online. Simply visit the Childline website for more information.
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