Disability, services provided to disabled people, education and employment of disabled people are some of the mostly discussed issues among developing societies. Especially, it is discussed that mentally disabled individuals among disabled groups encounter with more problems and they have to lead isolated lives from society. However, interaction with another living creature and socialization are among the basic needs of a living creature. The aim of the study is to evaluate the comments of academics and members of profession who work on disability about mentally disabled individuals’ participation to social life. To this end, 18 people who work on disability were interviewed. In the study, qualitative research design is preferred. According to that, it is identified that 9 out of 18 participants (P1, P2, P9, P12, P13, P14, P15, P17, P18) state that mentally disabled individuals’ participation to social life is “insufficient.” 11 of the participants (P1, P4, P5, P6, P7, P9, P10, P11, P12, P13, P14) indicate “social stigmatizations” as the factor that hinders mentally disabled individuals’ participation to social life. It is revealed that in order to get rid of the factors that hinder mentally disabled individuals’ participation to social life, 12 of the participants (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P9, P11, P14, P15, P17) emphasize the necessity of raising “social awareness.”
First keyword, Disability Second keyword, Social Life Third keyword, Mental Disability Fourth keyword, Social Awareness Fifth keyword, Stigmatization
