PARENTS' VIEWS OF THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON INDIVIDUALS WİTH SPECIAL NEEDS: THE CASE OF TURKEY

Year 2023, Volume: 25 Issue: 1, 97 - 120, 02.06.2023

Hatice Şengül Erdem , Halil Selimoğlu , Yeşim Fazlıoğlu , Sevgi Melis Akyürek

https://doi.org/10.26468/trakyasobed.1169642

Cited By: 1

Abstract

This study investigates the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of individuals with special needs. In the research carried out with phenomenological research design, data were obtained online from 121 parents with children with special needs and live in 14 different cities in Turkey by means of an interview form consisting of open-ended questions developed by researchers. From the content analysis of the data, 8 themes have been reached, namely, education, health, social life, behavioral-emotional adaptation, physical condition, family communication, indoor activities and social supports and needs. According to the findings, parents stated most that during the pandemic process, social lives of children with special needs were restricted and their daily routines were disturbed, they could not benefit efficiently from distance learning, their behavioral problems such as tantrums and harming themselves and others increased, negative physical situations emerged like weight gain / loss and sleep disorders and stress increased in family communication. Parents indicated that they could do indoor activities with their children and that they do not have difficulties in accessing health services for their children. The majority of the parents stated that they needed psychological counseling, distance education services, financial support and also that they received the greatest support from their family members and teachers.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with special needs, parents, social and emotional effects, health and education services, needs and supports.

COVİD-19'UN ÖZEL GEREKSİNİMLİ BİREYLER ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİSİNE İLİŞKİN EBEVEYN GÖRÜŞLERİ: TÜRKİYE ÖRNEĞİ

Abstract

Bu araştırma, COVİD-19 pandemisinin özel gereksinimli bireylerin yaşamlarına etkisi araştırmıştır. Fenomonolojik desen ile yürütülen araştırmada veriler, araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen açık uçlu sorulardan oluşan bir çevrimiçi görüşme formuyla Türkiye’nin 14 farklı ilinden özel gereksinimli çocuğu olan 121 ebeveynden toplanmıştır. Verilerin içerik analizi sonucunda eğitim, sağlık, sosyal yaşam, davranışsal-duygusal uyum, fiziksel durum, aile içi iletişim, ev içi aktiviteler, sağlanan sosyal destekler ve ihtiyaçlar olmak üzere 8 temaya ulaşılmıştır. Bulgulara göre ebeveynler, özel gereksinimli çocukların pandemi sürecinde en fazla (a) sosyal yaşamlarının kısıtlandığını, (b) günlük rutinlerinin bozulduğunu, (c) uzaktan eğitimden yeterince verim alamadıklarını, (d) öfke krizleri ile kendine ve başkasına (örn., ebeveynler) zarar verme gibi davranış sorunlarının arttığını, (e) kilo alma/verme ve uyku düzeni bozulması gibi olumsuz fiziksel durumların ortaya çıktığını ve aile içi iletişimde stresin arttığını belirtmişlerdir. Ayrıca, ebeveynler çocukları ile ev içi aktiviteler yapabildiklerini ve çocukları ile ilgili sağlık hizmetlerine erişimde zorluklar yaşamadıklarını ifade etmişlerdir. Ebeveynlerin büyük çoğunluğu psikolojik danışma, uzaktan eğitim hizmetleri ve maddi desteğe ihtiyaç duyduklarını belirtmişlerdir. Son olarak, ebeveynler, en büyük desteği aile üyelerinden ve öğretmenlerden gördüklerini ifade etmişlerdir.

Keywords

COVID-19, özel gereksinimli bireyler, ebeveyn, sosyal ve duygusal etkiler, sağlık ve eğitim hizmetleri, destek ve ihtiyaç.

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