Individuals with Special Needs and Biological Disasters: Experiences of COVID-19

Gizem Türkoğlu Boyvat; Mehmet Yanardağ; Erkan Kurnaz; Tezcan Çavuşoğlu

doi:10.46778/goputeb.1489401

EN TR

Individuals with Special Needs and Biological Disasters: Experiences of COVID-19

Abstract

Natural disasters and pandemics are defined as events that affect all segments of society but make conditions more difficult for individuals with special needs and their caregivers. In disaster situations, meeting the needs of individuals with special needs and ensuring their safety requires the planning of individualized services. In this context, various physical, emotional, and social problems may arise for caregivers and individuals with special needs. Global events such as the pandemic can profoundly affect the lives of individuals with special needs and their caregivers, making the problems and needs they face more visible. The research, designed as a phenomenological design, consists of twelve mothers who are caregivers of individuals with special needs. Researcher diary, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection techniques. The data were analyzed through content analysis. Research findings were presented descriptively and supported by direct quotations. The research findings showed that the participants discussed their opinions under the headings of experiences, problems, support received, insights, and needs regarding the pandemic process. Participants described the pandemic process as frightening, disrupting their routines and making their difficult conditions even more difficult; they reported that they had problems spending time at home and coping with problematic behaviors. Their views on their experiences during the pandemic process were categorized as the experiences of the first encounter, the lessons they learned, the adaptation strategies they developed for the process, and the meaning of education during the pandemic. In addition, the caregivers received support in various fields from their close family members, neighbors, and teachers in this process. It was also found that they had needs in areas such as care, information, material, social interaction, and psychological support. Based on the results, recommendations for future research and applications have been presented.

Keywords

Individual with Special Needs , Caregiver , Biological Disaster , COVID-19 , Experiences

Biyolojik Afetler Açısından Özel Gereksinimli Bireyler: Bakım Verenlerin Covid-19 Deneyimleri

Öz

Doğal afetler ve pandemiler, toplumun tüm kesimini etkileyen ancak özel gereksinimli bireyler ve bakım verenleri için koşulları daha da zorlaştıran olaylar olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Afet durumlarında, özel gereksinimli bireylerin ihtiyaçlarının karşılanması ve güvenliklerinin sağlanması bireyselleştirilmiş hizmetlerin planlanmasını gerektirmektedir. Bu bağlamda bakım verenler ve özel gereksinimli bireyler için fiziksel, duygusal ve sosyal açıdan çeşitli problemler ortaya çıkabilmektedir. Pandemi gibi küresel olaylar özel gereksinimli bireylerin ve bakım verenlerinin yaşamlarını derinden etkileyerek karşılaştıkları sorunları ve ihtiyaçları daha görünür hale getirebilmektedir. Bu araştırmada özel gereksinimli bireylere bakım verenlerin Covid-19 sürecindeki deneyimlerine ilişkin görüşlerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Olgubilim deseni olarak tasarlanan araştırma katılımcıları, özel gereksinimli bireylerin bakım vereni statüsünde olan on iki anneden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama tekniği olarak araştırmacı günlüğü, doküman analizi ve yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşme kullanılmıştır. Veriler içerik analizi ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma bulguları doğrudan alıntılarla desteklenerek betimsel bir şekilde sunulmuştur. Araştırma sonucunda katılımcılar görüşlerini pandemi sürecine ilişkin deneyimler, yaşanan sorunlar, alınan destekler, kavrayışlar ve gereksinimler başlıkları altında ele almıştır. Katılımcılar pandemi sürecini korkutucu, rutinlerini bozan ve zor koşullarını daha da zorlaştıran bir durum olarak tanımlamış; evde vakit geçirmede ve problem davranışlarla başa çıkmada sorunlar yaşadıklarını bildirmiştir. Pandemi sürecindeki deneyimlerine ilişkin görüşleri; ilk karşılaşmada yaşananlar, çıkardıkları dersler, sürece ilişkin geliştirdikleri uyum stratejileri ve pandemi sürecindeki eğitimin anlamını ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca bakım verenlerin bu süreçte yakın aile bireyleri, komşu ve öğretmenlerden çeşitli alanlarda destek aldıkları; bakım, bilgi, maddi, sosyal etkileşim ve psikolojik destek gibi alanlarda ise gereksinimleri olduğuna ulaşılmıştır. Sonuçlar çerçevesinde gelecek araştırma ve uygulamalara yönelik öneriler sunulmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Özel Gereksinimli Birey , Bakım Veren , Biyolojik Afet , Covid-19 , Deneyim

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Special Education and Disability (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gizem Türkoğlu Boyvat ^*
0000-0002-8614-1714
Türkiye

Mehmet Yanardağ
0000-0001-6058-1458
Türkiye

Erkan Kurnaz
0000-0001-8905-8011
Türkiye

Tezcan Çavuşoğlu
0000-0002-2225-6651
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

March 29, 2025

Publication Date

March 29, 2025

Submission Date

May 24, 2024

Acceptance Date

October 20, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 13 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.46778/goputeb.1489401

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA45JR92GG

APA

Türkoğlu Boyvat, G., Yanardağ, M., Kurnaz, E., & Çavuşoğlu, T. (2025). Individuals with Special Needs and Biological Disasters: Experiences of COVID-19. International Journal of Turkish Education Sciences, 13(1), 165-206. https://doi.org/10.46778/goputeb.1489401

Individuals with Special Needs and Biological Disasters: Experiences of COVID-19

Abstract

Keywords

Biyolojik Afetler Açısından Özel Gereksinimli Bireyler: Bakım Verenlerin Covid-19 Deneyimleri

Öz

Anahtar Kelimeler

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Early Pub Date

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

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