Practices and policy recommendations on work-life balance of families with intellectual disabled children

In research conducted based on work-life balance, it has been observed that there are a limited number of studies in the international literature on the working lives of parents with children who have intellectual disabilities but no studies have been found in the national literature.. It seems that studies in the literature on work-life balance mostly focus on the working lives of parents of typically developing children. In this study, the impact of the situation that occurs after the child is diagnosed with a mental development disorder on working parents and the family is discussed in the context of work-life balance. It is observed that parents of intellectually disabled children have difficulties in balancing their ongoing responsibilities in working life with their increasing responsibilities within the family due to the special needs of the child. The difficulties that arise regarding work-life balance determine a number of factors. These factors are examined as individual and organizational factors. Within the scope of the study, the concept of intellectual disability was evaluated as a condition that begins before birth or in early childhood and requires long-term special support. When considered from the work-life balance perspective, practices on the issue, which is of critical importance because it affects working parents, families, businesses/organizations, and the state, are examined and suggestions for solutions are made.