No access to Gov’s office for disabled

SIVAS/ANKARA

Members of a disabled society want to pay a visit to the Sivas Governor’s Office but are unable to enter due to a lack of proper access facilities. DHA photo

Members of a disabled society in the Central Anatolian province of Sivas were unable to make an official visit on the International Day of People with Disability due to a lack of proper access facilities, Doğan news agency reported. Members of the society paid a visit to the Sivas Governor’s Office but were unable to enter. Kubilay Şahin, a representative of the society, told the press that they had requested that public office buildings be made more handicap-friendly.

In his message marking the day, Turkish President Abdullah Gül said social and economic barriers prevented better integration of disabled citizens with the rest of society. According to the president, current problems cannot be solved by taking legal measures alone but also require that prejudices be overcome. “Disabled people’s main expectation is social sensitivity. Our state and nongovernmental organizations have been carrying out great work so far to help disabled people’s employment, education and recreation in terms of their active participation in sport and cultural activities. I have been closely following all this work and am very happy with its results.”

The president’s statement said disabled people could register amazing success when given the chance and the successful results attained by disabled athletes in the Paralympic Games were proof of that.

Doctors become inspiration

Another meaningful success story marked the day. A disabled woman, who uses a wheelchair because she is unable to walk, in the Central Anatolian province of Tokat is studying to become a doctor at the faculty where she had received treatment since her childhood, private broadcaster CNNTürk has reported.

Sare Aydın, 20, passed the university entrance exam and has become a medical student at the Gaziosmanpaşa University Medical Faculty. She said she was inspired by the doctors who had treated her for years.