Magazine for disabled in difficulty

ISTANBUL - Anatolian News Agency

Turkey’s first magazine for visually challenged people is having difficulties due to lack of financial support, its owner said.

Saime Oğuzhan, the owner of the Invisible Newspaper (Görülmeyen Gazete), which is published using a Braille printing system, said the magazine is finding it difficult to raise awareness about the needs of disabled people in Turkey. “People we contact [as potential advertisers] are astonished when we apply to their companies. They congratulate us and express their support, but when it comes to buying advertising space I cannot say that there is the same sensibility,” she said.

Six years ago there were no publications for visually challenged people in Turkey, Oğuzhan said. “That was when I decided to start a magazine.”

The Invisible Newspaper was first published in 2007, and it now has a circulation of nearly 500 each month, Oğuzhan said. “The costs are so high; just one single magazine costs between 30-40 Turkish Liras to produce. Special printers and computer programs are needed. We are searching for sponsors and ads.”