Investigating Education and Support Needs of Families Who Have Children with Intellectual Disabilities

The purpose of the study was to define families' of children with intellectual disabilities, needs on education and support services. Descriptive survey model was used in the study. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews. The study was conducted in 9 Training Application Schools (Egitim Uygulama Okulu) that were formal special education school, governed by Ministry of Education. The schools were in Eskisehir, Ankara, Izmir, Istanbul, Denizli and Mugla. 18 administrators and teachers and 38 volunteer parents of children with intellectual disabilities participated in the study. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The themes defined from the interviews were: Social support social support networks, personal development, skills on working with children, adjustment process, information about special education programs and school's practices, child's health. Although, there were some differences between the percentage of needs' area of administrators-teachers and parents, the needs' areas of administrators and teachers were parallel with parents'. It is thought that the results of this study can be a source for designing programs and developing present programs on the basis of the needs of families of children with intellectual disabilities. (Contains 7 tables.) [This study was supported by a grant from The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (110K255) and Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects (1005E102).]