Social exclusion experiences of families with disabled members: The case of Şanlıurfa province

The thesis entitled " Social Exclusion Experiences of Families with Disabled Members: The Case of Şanlıurfa Province " aims to understand the experiences of social exclusion faced by families who have children with disabilities and to reveal how these experiences reflect on their emotional processes, social relationships, and daily lives. The sample of the study is composed of families with disabled children who were contacted through various rehabilitation centers in Şanlıurfa. A qualitative approach was adopted in the research, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed and classified into themes. It was found that the social exclusion experienced by families was not confined solely to societal prejudices, but also affected intra-family relationships, psychological resilience, caregiving burden, financial difficulties, and the search for social support. Participants reported that they occasionally encountered isolating, accusatory, and exclusionary attitudes within society. As a result of the research, the coping strategies developed by families with disabled children against social exclusion, their sources of support, and their expectations from the social environment were also revealed. These findings provide significant implications both for understanding the processes experienced by families and for fostering social awareness.