Access of Children with Disabilities to Urban Social Spaces: A Study Based on the Opinions of Parents and the Public

Merve Sipahi; Türker Oğuztürk; Gülcay Ercan Oğuztürk; Berivan Buse Sarıdiken

doi:10.35229/jaes.1826461

EN TR

Access of Children with Disabilities to Urban Social Spaces: A Study Based on the Opinions of Parents and the Public

Abstract

Ensuring accessibility of urban life for every individual is a key component of social justice and inclusive urban planning. This study examines the current situation, deficiencies, and improvement needs regarding the access of children with disabilities in the city of Rize to urban social spaces—such as parks, playgrounds, and public socialization areas—based on the views of parents and the public. The research was designed as a descriptive field study, collecting data from 25 parents of children with disabilities and 100 adults living in Rize city center through a structured questionnaire. Quantitative data from closed-ended questions were analyzed using frequency–percentage distributions and chi-square tests, while qualitative data from open-ended questions were evaluated through thematic content analysis. Findings indicate that most participants consider the physical accessibility of urban social areas inadequate, particularly noting deficiencies in playground surfaces, equipment diversity, safety, and sensory arrangements. Chi-square analyses revealed significant relationships between perceived physical suitability and the use of these spaces by disabled individuals, emphasizing the impact of physical design on social participation. Qualitative results also highlighted lack of social awareness, safety concerns, and limited administrative continuity. The study concludes that accessibility is a multidimensional public responsibility requiring inclusive planning and institutional sustainability.

Keywords

Children with Disabilities , Social Spaces , Playgrounds , Accessibility , Urban Planning

Özel Gereksinimli Çocukların Kentsel Sosyal Alanlara Erişimi: Ebeveynlerin ve Halkın Görüşlerine Dayalı Bir Araştırma

Öz

Kentsel yaşamın her birey için erişilebilir olması, sosyal adaletin ve kapsayıcı kent planlamasının temel bileşenlerinden biridir. Bu çalışma, Rize kentinde engelli çocukların parklar, oyun alanları ve kamusal sosyalleşme mekânları gibi kentsel sosyal alanlara erişimine ilişkin mevcut durumu, yetersizlikleri ve iyileştirme gereksinimlerini ebeveynler ile toplumun görüşlerine dayalı olarak incelemektedir. Araştırma tanımlayıcı nitelikte bir saha çalışması olarak tasarlanmış; Rize kent merkezinde yaşayan 25 engelli çocuk ebeveyni ve 100 yetişkinden yapılandırılmış anket aracılığıyla veri toplanmıştır. Kapalı uçlu sorulardan elde edilen nicel veriler frekans–yüzde dağılımları ve ki-kare testiyle; açık uçlu sorulardan elde edilen nitel veriler ise tematik içerik analiziyle değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, katılımcıların büyük çoğunluğunun kentsel sosyal alanların fiziksel erişilebilirliğini yetersiz bulduğunu; özellikle oyun alanlarında zemin, donanım çeşitliliği, güvenlik ve duyusal düzenlemeler açısından eksiklikler bulunduğunu göstermektedir. Ki-kare analizleri, algılanan fiziksel uygunluk ile engelli bireylerin bu alanları kullanma durumu arasında anlamlı ilişkiler ortaya koymuş; fiziksel tasarımın toplumsal katılım üzerindeki etkisini vurgulamıştır. Nitel bulgular, toplumsal farkındalık eksikliği, güvenlik kaygıları ve yerel yönetimlerin uygulama sürekliliğindeki sınırlılıklara da işaret etmektedir. Çalışma, erişilebilirliğin kapsayıcı planlama ve kurumsal sürdürülebilirlik gerektiren çok boyutlu bir kamusal sorumluluk olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Engelli Çocuklar , Sosyal Alanlar , Çocuk Parkları , Erişilebilirlik , Kent Planlama

Kaynakça

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Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

Çevresel Değerlendirme ve İzleme

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yazarlar

Merve Sipahi
0000-0002-3246-6302
Türkiye

Türker Oğuztürk ^*
0000-0002-9611-9959
Türkiye

Gülcay Ercan Oğuztürk
0000-0002-0893-4719
Türkiye

Berivan Buse Sarıdiken
0009-0007-2676-2029
Türkiye

Yayımlanma Tarihi

28 Şubat 2026

Gönderilme Tarihi

19 Kasım 2025

Kabul Tarihi

7 Ocak 2026

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2026 Sayı: 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.1826461

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA87ND69YE

APA

Sipahi, M., Oğuztürk, T., Ercan Oğuztürk, G., & Sarıdiken, B. B. (2026). Access of Children with Disabilities to Urban Social Spaces: A Study Based on the Opinions of Parents and the Public. Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, 2026. https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.1826461

JAES, 2016- 11.yıl

Access of Children with Disabilities to Urban Social Spaces: A Study Based on the Opinions of Parents and the Public

Abstract

Keywords

Özel Gereksinimli Çocukların Kentsel Sosyal Alanlara Erişimi: Ebeveynlerin ve Halkın Görüşlerine Dayalı Bir Araştırma

Öz

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kaynakça

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

Konular

Bölüm

Yazarlar

Yayımlanma Tarihi

Gönderilme Tarihi

Kabul Tarihi

Yayımlandığı Sayı

DOI

IZ

Kaynak Göster