Vocational School of Justice
TRUTH ABOUT DISABILTY IN TURKEY
Lecturer Sevil Telli from Vocational School of Health, Izmir University of Economics stated that December 3 was observed as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. She reported that disability, caused by various reasons, increased due to reasons such as the population getting older, increase in chronic diseases, slip and fall accidents, traffic accidents, or natural disasters. Telli reported that disability rate was especially higher in urban areas, Marmara andAegean regions, and that the parents of children with disabilities were deeply concerned about their children’s current and future welfare, or they feared their children would get involved in accidents or injuries.
‘Being Labeled as Disabled’
Telli stated that families also had difficulty in taking advanced care of the elderly and failed to receive any social support. “People with disabilities in Turkey are seen as consumers who are in need of care. They are faced with being ridiculed and labeled. Facts such as poverty, lack or limited use of outdoors, lack of specially designed areas forthe visually impaired draw attention. High risk of accidents, safety, transportation, lack of sidewalks for disabled pedestrians, stairs, wet ground, and pavement are some of the major problems they experience,” said Telli.
‘Do Not Restrict Their Living Space’
Telli said that in some countries the reason of disability was caused 25% by violence and injuries based on World Health Organization Statistics (WHO), and she saidthatdisabled individuals were subject violence andabuse more. Telli said that anyone in their lifetime would be subject to disability, and living space of the disabled should not be restricted.