Determining needs and priorities in support services for students with special needs in open and distance learning

In this research, it is aimed to determine the support services needs and priorities of students with special needs studying at Anadolu University Open and Distance Education System according to their disability types. In scope of this research, support services were addressed within pedagogical, social, managerial and technical context which was derived from literature. In this research the exploratory sequential design was used. This design is a two-pace design involving qualitative data collection and analysis in the first phase, guantitative data collection and analysis in the second phase. In the first phase of this research, semi-constructed interviews were conducted with 6 individuals with hearing impairment, 6 individuals with visual impairment and 6 individuals with orthopedic impairment. In analyzing of data obtained from interviews, types of support services in open and distance learning: pedagogical, social, managerial and technical support which was identified from literature was used. Qualitative data was coded in thematic framework identified from literature and qualitative findings. According to the findings of qualitative pace, the needs of individuals with special needs were determined. In the second phase of the research, in order to determine the priorities in support services for students with special needs, Determining The Priorities In Support Services For Students With Special Needs survey which was developed for each of three disability types by researcher was used. Surveys were developed by using the data obtained from literature and qualitative phase of the research. 703 students with special needs replied to the surveys. By analyzing quantitative data obtained from surveys using descriptive statistics techniques, the priorities in support services of students with specias needs were determined.