‘Uncertain Futures’: A Capabilities Approach to Structured Inequalities in the Transitions of Students with Special Educational Needs in Türkiye
YOUTH, vol.6, no.3, pp.1-24, 2026 (ESCI)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 6 Issue: 3
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.3390/youth6030108
- Journal Name: YOUTH
- Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)
- Page Numbers: pp.1-24
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
This study explores the educational transitions of university students with special educational needs in Türkiye, focusing on their experiences of moving from secondary to higher education and their expectations for the transition from university to employment. The study draws on semi-structured interviews with 15 university students with special educational needs, including two participants with immigrant backgrounds. Findings primarily reflect the experiences of the overall sample, while the accounts of the two participants with immigrant backgrounds are interpreted as exploratory observations. The interview questions focused on resources, transition-related experiences, and expectations. Guided by the Capabilities Approach, the analysis explores the barriers to a smooth transition process and their implications for career choices through the lens of central capabilities. The findings reveal that participants face a range of challenges during transition processes, including limited and inconsistent institutional support, barriers in accessing educational and vocational opportunities, and difficulties in navigating key transition stages. The two students with immigrant backgrounds additionally described challenges related to language barriers, unfamiliarity with the education system, and limited access to support networks, which appeared to further complicate their individual transition experiences.