At a glance
- Deniz Yıldızı Special Education is a special education and rehabilitation centre founded by Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel in Bornova, Izmir.
- The centre was established with the purpose of maintaining experience in the field of special education within an ethical framework and touching more lives by training new educators.
- It takes its name from the story of the child who throws starfish washing ashore back into the sea one by one: it is possible to make a difference for every child.
- It provides support in the fields of autism, speech and language, ADHD, specific learning disability, giftedness, high-risk infant follow-up, intellectual disability, and Down syndrome.
- For each child, the team collaboratively prepares an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which is reviewed every 3 months.
- Our centre conducts a preliminary assessment and refers the family to a physician when necessary.
Prepared by: Deniz Yıldızı Special Education content team · Scientific review: Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel · Last updated: 15 September 2026
How and why was Deniz Yıldızı Special Education founded?
Deniz Yıldızı Special Education was founded by Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel. Before opening the centre, Burcu Cebeci Gürel supported the developmental processes of children and young people as an educator in various special education centres in Izmir.
After these years, a need became clear: to sustain the acquired knowledge and experience within an ethical framework in an institution managed by her own principles. She wanted to build a structure that puts the child's needs at the centre, establishes open communication with the family, and bases its decisions on observation and evaluation.
The second purpose of the foundation was at least as important as the first: to train new educators. The number of children a single expert can reach is limited; but a well-trained team supported by supervision can touch many more lives. Today, the weekly supervision and teamwork in our centre are a natural continuation of this purpose.
In short, Deniz Yıldızı was born from an expert's desire to grow her professional knowledge by sharing it with a team. Our goal is to be a place where families do not feel alone on this journey and where children can learn safely.
Where does the name Deniz Yıldızı (Starfish) come from?
Our centre takes its name from the well-known story of the starfish washed ashore. The story is briefly told as follows: On the morning after a stormy night, the beach is filled with thousands of starfish cast ashore by the waves. As the sun rises and the starfish begin to dry out, a child picks them up one by one and throws them back into the sea.
Someone walking by smiles at the child and asks: There are thousands of starfish on this beach, you can't save them all. What difference will what you are doing make? The child bends down, picks up another starfish, throws it into the sea, and replies: I made a difference for that one.
For us, this story explains the essence of special education. Every child's needs are different and each requires separate time, effort, and attention. A small step taken in a single child's life makes a big difference for that child and their family.
Every time we hear our name, we remember this responsibility: to focus on the child in front of us without getting lost in the crowd and to make a difference for them.
What do we prioritize when working with children?
We build our approach on a few fundamental principles. These principles apply at every stage, from the initial consultation to the review of the program.
Knowing the child first
Before writing a program, we try to understand the child's developmental history, strengths, and areas where they need support. This is why a detailed initial consultation and assessment are never skipped.
A separate plan for each child
The needs of two children with the same diagnosis can be very different. Therefore, the team collaboratively prepares an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each child.
Thinking as a team
The psychologist, special education teacher, speech and language therapist, and occupational therapist meet at the same table when necessary. The child is not confined to the perspective of a single expert.
Open communication with the family
Brief feedback is provided to the parent at the end of each session. Discussing what the family can do at home is an important part of the process.
Relying on observation and measurement
We track progress not by feeling, but through periodic test repetitions and regular observation notes. The program is updated according to these data.
Staying within ethical boundaries
We do not make diagnoses and do not promise definitive results. We refer the family to a physician when necessary and honestly share what we know.
How does our working system operate briefly?
We have gathered the issues parents wonder about most during the initial consultation into a single table.
| Topic | How is it at Deniz Yıldızı? |
|---|---|
| Age groups | Ages 0–3, 3–6, 6–12, and 12+ |
| Session type | Individual and group sessions, planned comprehensively based on the child's needs |
| Students with a RAM report | The number and content of sessions are determined according to the report |
| Students without a report (private) | The number of sessions is determined together with the family |
| Education program (IEP) | Prepared collaboratively by the team, reviewed every 3 months |
| Progress tracking | Periodic test repetition and observation notes |
| Information to parent | Brief feedback at the end of each session |
| Internal team auditing | Weekly supervision (Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel) |
| Initial consultation | Comprehensive expert consultation, approx. 1 hour, with Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel |
How does the process proceed from booking an appointment to the education program?
When you call us for the first time, the process generally proceeds with the following steps. Since every family's situation is different, the duration of the steps may vary.
Booking an appointment
You contact us at 0530 407 00 78. Our assistant schedules a suitable time for you for a comprehensive expert consultation.
Comprehensive Expert Consultation and detailed history
Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel meets with you for about 1 hour. Your child's developmental history (anamnesis) from birth to present is taken in detail, and a verbal assessment is provided to you at the end of the meeting.
Assessment
If deemed necessary, a more detailed assessment is carried out with tests, scales, and observations tailored to your child's needs. If there is a condition requiring a diagnosis, we refer you to a physician.
Parent education
We do not leave the family out of the process. We discuss your child's needs, what you can pay attention to at home, and how the process will work.
Education program
The team prepares the Individualized Education Program (IEP) according to the assessment results, and the sessions begin. The program is reviewed every 3 months.
In which areas does Deniz Yıldızı provide support?
In addition to our founder's years of experience in autism, we also provide support to children and families in the following areas. Details of each area can be found on their respective pages.
- Autism spectrum disorder: preliminary assessment, individual and group programs, family support
- Speech and language difficulties: delayed speech, articulation, fluency, and communication skills
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): attention, executive functions, and activities of daily living
- Specific learning disability: individual support for reading, writing, and learning processes
- Giftedness and high intelligence: understanding strengths and social-emotional needs
- High-risk infant developmental follow-up: monitoring and screening development in the early period
- Intellectual disability and Down syndrome: development and activities of daily living
What do we promise parents, and what can we not promise?
Trust in special education begins with honesty. That is why we state openly from the start what we can and cannot do.
What we promise
- Not writing a program without knowing your child
- Giving you brief feedback at the end of each session
- Responding to your appointment request on the same day
- Reviewing the program as a team every 3 months
- Explaining what we know in simple language without compromising clinical accuracy
- Referring you to the right specialist and physician when necessary
What we cannot promise
- Making a diagnosis
- Guaranteeing definitive results or progress within a certain time frame
- Applying the same duration and same program to every child
- Expecting lasting progress without family involvement
What do the terms on this page mean?
- IEP (Individualized Education Program)
- An educational plan prepared specifically for the child based on assessment results, where goals and working methods are written.
- Anamnesis
- Taking the child's detailed health and developmental history from the family, from before birth to the present.
- Preliminary assessment
- The initial consultation and observations made to understand the child's development and needs. It does not replace a diagnosis.
- Supervision
- An experienced specialist regularly monitoring and guiding the work of educators in the team.
- RAM
- Guidance and Research Centre (RAM). The official institution that conducts the educational assessment of children in need of special education and issues the support education report.
- Multidisciplinary work
- Experts from different professions evaluating a child's needs together and making a joint decision.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Deniz Yıldızı Special Education?
Our centre was founded by Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel. Burcu Cebeci Gürel graduated from Ege University Psychology department and holds a master's degree in family counseling from the same university. She has been working in the field of special education for many years, predominantly with the autism diagnosis.
Where is Deniz Yıldızı Special Education?
Our centre is located in Bornova, Izmir, at Kazımdirik Mahallesi 372/14 Sokak No:20, near Forum Bornova. You can contact us at 0530 407 00 78 for directions.
Why is the centre called Deniz Yıldızı (Starfish)?
Our name comes from the story of the child throwing starfish washed ashore back into the sea one by one. To someone saying you can't save them all, the child replies that they made a difference for the starfish they just threw into the sea. We aim to make a difference for every child individually.
Which age groups do you work with?
We work with children and young people aged 0–3, 3–6, 6–12, and 12+. We provide support across a wide age range, from high-risk infant developmental follow-up to school age and adolescence.
Does your centre make diagnoses?
No. We conduct preliminary assessments, administer necessary tests and observations, and refer the family to a physician in cases requiring a diagnosis.
Is the initial consultation paid?
The preliminary consultation is free of charge. In this consultation with Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel, which lasts about 1 hour, your child's developmental history is taken and a verbal assessment is provided to you.
Can children without a RAM report also receive education?
Yes. For students without a RAM report, we determine the number of sessions together with the family. For students with a RAM report, the number and content of the sessions are planned according to the report.
How is the education program prepared?
For each child, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is prepared collaboratively by the team. The program is based on assessment results and is reviewed and updated every 3 months.
How often will I receive information about my child's progress?
You will be given brief feedback at the end of each session. Additionally, progress is tracked through periodic test repetitions and observation notes, and the program is updated according to this data.
Which experts are in your team?
Our team includes psychologists (some of whom are psychologists with an MSc), speech and language therapists, special education teachers, child development specialists, and an occupational therapist. You can find the detailed breakdown of our staff on our Our Team page.
In which areas do you provide support other than autism?
We also provide support in the fields of speech and language difficulties, ADHD, specific learning disability, giftedness and high intelligence, high-risk infant developmental follow-up, intellectual disability, and Down syndrome.
