The role of social capital for integration into the society of disabled persons

The study aims to explore the coping capacities of disabled individuals, who are among the disadvantaged groups, regarding the obstacles they encounter and the ways they follow in their integration with the social environment in the context of social capital. In this context, the factors that determine the disadvantage, the effects of stereotypes attributed to disabled people in the society and exclusion on social integration, the effects of the skills developed and the social support received on the coping capacity are included. However, the contribution of social capital components (trust, solidarity/cooperation, social networks/ties) on social integration, the contribution of organization on social integration and the position of social capital in organization, the effect of specific rights in solving issues related to disadvantages, the importance of social trust, solidarity and cooperation for social integration have been discussed. A qualitative research based on phenomenological design was preferred in order to explore lived experiences and attributed meanings in depth. The sample of the study consists of 22 participants, including 5 orthopedic, 5 chronic, 5 visually and 7 mentally disabled individuals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews in this qualitative study. During the interviews, 19 open-ended questions were asked to the participants. The resulting raw data were coded using the qualitative data analysis program MAXQDA 2020 (version 20.4.0). Research findings are presented under 9 main themes. Three analysis methods were applied using the MAXQDA program. Frequency analysis was used to determine the density of the codes under the same theme, proximity analysis to determine the relationships between the codes, and indicator-based analysis to determine the density of the codes according to the types of obstacles. The following results emerged in the research: 1) The disadvantage is that not only disabled people determine the "barriers", social and environmental factors have a determining aspect. 2) Since the stereotypes and discriminatory/oppressive practices attributed to disabled people in society cause social exclusion, they harm the integration of individuals into the society. 3) The skills developed and social support received by disabled individuals have an active role in strengthening their coping capacity. 4) It seems that disabled individuals make contact with social capital through organization. 5) It has been discovered that there is a linear relationship between the level of organization and the level of capital, in other words, social capital also emerges with organization. 6) It has been seen that the specific rights granted regarding the disadvantaged situations are important in order to solve the issues, but that specific rights should be presented without breaking away from the basic human rights discourse. 7) When we look at the definition of social integration for disadvantaged groups, especially for disabled individuals, it is understood that it is possible with organization and could be strengthened by the existence of social trust, solidarity and cooperation.