Safer Internet Day is a timely reminder of the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the online world safely and for Courtney King, a Sexuality and Relationships Educator at Rubix Support, this is a constant concern.
She’s seen firsthand how being online offers incredible opportunities for connection and community that might not be otherwise accessible to young people living with a disability. But she’s also witnessed the dangers including scams, cyberbullying, and sextortion.
Courtney King uses the Be Safe Online resources to teach online safety to the young people she works with.
“For many of the young people I work with, the internet is a lifeline – it allows them to connect with friends, engage with their interests, and be part of communities. But that comes with risks, and until now, there hasn’t been many education resources designed for them.”
Recognising this gap, we developed Be Safe Online in collaboration with the eSafety Commissioner. This is a set of tailored resources that give young people with disability the online safety education they need.
Be Safe Online covers essential topics such as online scams, digital consent, and maintaining a healthy online balance – providing educators, parents and young people with ready-to-use tools that are engaging, accessible, and practical.
Until now, educators like Courtney have had limited options when teaching online safety to young people with disability.
“In the past, I either had to adapt mainstream resources, which often weren’t age-appropriate, or spend hours creating my own. That’s time-consuming and, honestly, not always effective.”
The reality is that resources designed for 15-year-olds may not work for a 15-year-old with literacy difficulties or an intellectual disability. On the flip side, materials made for younger children might be at the right comprehension level, but they miss key topics like social media risks that teenagers are actually exposed to.
One of the most powerful elements of Be Safe Online is that it goes beyond the usual advice of simply telling an adult when something goes wrong.
“The resources create a real opportunity for young people to start conversations with parents and teachers about online safety – conversations that might otherwise never happen,” said Courtney.
By giving young people with disability, the tools to understand risks and make informed decisions, the resources empower them to be online safely – rather than just protect them.
For educators, Be Safe Online is a huge time saver and ensures that the content being delivered is fit for purpose.
“These resources are easy to use, they make sense, and they fit into existing teaching frameworks. They’re not just helpful – they’re essential.”
Scope’s Be Safe Online resources can be accessed here: Be Safe Online
Watching your child grow and develop is a rewarding, remarkable experience. Yet it can be fraught with anxiety. How do you know if your child is reaching all the right milestones? When should you get a cute quirk in their behaviour looked at?
The online world presents countless opportunities for young people, offering avenues for connection, learning, and self-expression. For young people living with disability, digital platforms can provide unique ways to engage and participate in communities that may at times be harder to access in the physical world. However, alongside these opportunities, there are also challenges—especially for those who face cognitive difficulties and low literacy.
With the new year well and truly upon us, we have been very busy. I hope you enjoyed precious time with friends, family and those important to you over the festive season.
