Exclusion Practices and Coping Strategies of Families with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

This study analyzes the social exclusion practices experienced by families with individuals with intellectual disabilities from a sociological perspective. The study aims to contribute to the understanding of the exclusionary attitudes faced by these families and the mechanisms through which such attitudes operate. Within the scope of the research, both the families’ experiences of exclusion and their ways of coping with these processes are examined. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study employs semi-structured interviews as the data collection method. The study group consists of 17 families with individuals with intellectual disabilities living in the province of Bitlis. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the majority of families are exposed to social exclusion in everyday life, experience disruptions in their social relationships, and are subjected to labeling. However, it was also found that some families attempt to cope with exclusion through mechanisms such as religious beliefs, attributing experiences to fate, and solidarity-based relationships.