Being disabled asylum seekers in Turkey in the focus of needs, problems and expectations: An evaluation from a social work perspective

Aim: The aim of this study is to describe the needs of disabled asylum seekers living under temporary protected status in Turkey, their problems and service expectations, and to evaluate their life experiences with a rights-based social work perspective and anti-pressure practice focus. Methods: In the research, phenomenographic research method with qualitative methodology was used. The study was included 20 disabled asylum seekers who are receiving service from their representatives in Gaziantep province within the scope of SGDD-ASAM. In the study, the semi-structured interview form was applied with the in-depth interview technique. The data were encoded with MAXQDA and analyzed with thematic analysis. Findings: Based on the life stories of the participants, the ongoing forced migration experiences; Various themes were explored and evaluated under five categories: "participants' identification of their disability, migration journey, change and acceptance, access to human rights and needs and thoughts on the future". It was observed that a significant portion of the participants entered our country in order to benefit from emergency health services, they could not access health services due to identity problems, the language barrier caused problems in terms of access to services and sustainability, and individuals had problems due to unmet medical needs. In the context of the problems encountered and special needs, it was determined that the problem and the pressure mechanism most emphasized by the participants were the economic difficulties. On the basis of the expectations, it has been observed that financial support, third country and Turkish citizenship demands. Results: Almost all of the participants experienced changes in their health status, daily life and family relations with migration. It has been concluded that the disabled asylum-seekers who are the victims of war are more affected by the forced displacement processes, have unmet special needs, experience serious economic difficulties and do not have sustainable living conditions. At the point of social integration and discrimination, it has been revealed that the participants are exposed to multiple discrimination and pressures in their education, health, employment and social lives. Consequently, the study revealed the hierarchy of needs and pressure elements of the disabled asylum seekers and developed solution strategies for the problems of disabled asylum seekers with intervention recommendations from a social work perspective.