Attitudes of Graduate Students in Speech and Language Therapy toward Individuals with Special Needs

Journal of Qualitative Research in Education

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Attitudes of Graduate Students in Speech and Language Therapy toward Individuals with Special Needs

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https://doi.org/10.54963/jqre.i45.1991
Uysal, H. T., Kirazli, M. C., Miraloglu, K., & Kose, A. (2025). Attitudes of Graduate Students in Speech and Language Therapy toward Individuals with Special Needs . Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, (45), 194–206. https://doi.org/10.54963/jqre.i45.1991
Issue 45 (2026): In progress
Copyright (c) 2026 Halil Tayyip Uysal, Meltem Cigdem Kirazli, Kubra Miraloglu, Aysen Kose
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Authors

  • Halil Tayyip Uysal

    Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Cubuk, Ankara 06760, Türkiye
  • Meltem Cigdem Kirazli

    Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Sıhhiye, Ankara 06100, Türkiye
  • Kubra Miraloglu

    Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kutahya Health Sciences University, Merkez, Kutahya 43100, Türkiye
  • Aysen Kose

    Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Sıhhiye, Ankara 06100, Türkiye

Received: 10 July 2025; Revised: 17 October 2025; Accepted: 17 October 2025; Published: 12 January 2026

Understanding the attitudes of healthcare professionals and students is crucial for enhancing the quality and accessibility of services provided to individuals with special needs (IWSN). Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) professionals play a central role in the multidisciplinary support of these individuals, making it essential to explore the perspectives of future practitioners. This study investigates the attitudes of graduate SLT students toward IWSN, with the goal of informing educational practices and contributing to professional development. A qualitative research design was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with 8 graduate-level SLT students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Thematic analysis was conducted using MAXQDA software to identify patterns and insights within the data. The findings revealed that participants generally held positive attitudes toward IWSN, regardless of their level of study. Four overarching themes emerged from the analysis: (a) family relations, (b) academic, social, and public issues, (c) emotional responses of graduate students, and (d) perceived professional needs. Although some students initially expressed hesitation, they reported a shift in attitudes over time, attributing this change largely to experiential learning opportunities. The study highlights the importance of integrating real-life experiences into SLT training programs and promoting broader awareness among students, families, and the wider community to enhance support for IWSN.

Keywords:

Individuals with Special Needs Individuals with Disabilities Graduate Speech and Language Therapy Students Qualitative Design Attitudes

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