Analysis of Service and Legislative Frameworks in Turkey across the Lifespan

Abstract

This chapter examines the state of services for people with intellectual developmental disabilities/disorders (IDD) in the Republic of Turkey. Children and adolescents need to be certified as having an IDD by a medical board under the auspices of the Ministry of Health (MoH). In terms of special educational needs, children and adolescents with IDD are further offered variable levels of assessment services through a national network of Guidance and Research Centers under the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) across the country’s 81 provinces. Rehabilitative, residential, social care and protection services are administered under the Prime Ministry Social Services and Child Protection (SCHEK) coordinated under a Prime Ministry Department. This chapter also describes the relevant legislative developments shaping the current status of care. Although investigations by international, non-governmental organizations into neglect have described some abuses in residential care facilities, the proportion of children, adolescents as well as adults with IDD in residential care facilities in Turkey is in fact relatively uncommon, and the emphasis should focus on social inclusion and participatory rehabilitative services.