Daily life experiences of families with disabled children: The case of Elazığ province

This study focuses on the daily life experiences of families with children with disabilities. In this study, which was designed with qualitative research method, interviews were conducted with 20 parents with disabled children living in Elazığ province through semi-structured interview forms. In the study, findings on the daily lives of families with disabled children were tried to be obtained. Daily life themes such as family relations, relations with the social environment, social exclusion problems, economic status, educational expectations, religious attitudes and behaviors, leisure time activities, consumption habits, and anxiety about the future of families with disabled children were discussed. As a result of the research, it was determined that the lives of the families changed with the addition of the disabled child to the family and they experienced various difficulties. It can be said that intra-family relations have changed, relations with the social environment have weakened, social exclusion problems have been experienced, the family economy has been affected, families are not satisfied with the education their children receive, they cannot make use of their free time, consumption habits have changed, they are more attached to religion and they have intense concerns about the future of their children.