Human rights-based social inclusion in Turkiye: a phenomenological examination of experiences of people with disabilities

Yalçın A., ABAOĞLU H.

Disability and Society, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/09687599.2026.2629890
  • Journal Name: Disability and Society
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index
  • Keywords: Disability, human rights, independent living, lived experience, social inclusion
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Full and equal participation of people with disabilities is recognized as a fundamental human right. However, structural, economic, and social barriers continue to restrict this participation. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 16 adults with physical, sensory, intellectual, or psychological impairments, using semi-structured interviews within a rights-based analytical framework. Five themes emerged, reflecting the human rights-based social inclusion experiences: (1) Disability in the Mirror of Society: Identity, Visibility, and Social Recognition, (2) Relational Environments and Conditional Support: Between Care and Constraint, (3) Accessibility as a Right: Structural Conditions of Independent Living, (4) Rights on Paper? Institutionalized Inequality and the Gap Between Law and Practice, and (5) Imagining Inclusion: Between Skepticism and Hope. Findings show physical, economic, and bureaucratic barriers severely limit inclusion. This highlights the persistent gap between policy and practice, underscoring the need for stronger rights-based implementation.