Studies Planned and Performed at Istanbul Gelisim University within the Scope of Barrier-Free University Definition of Disability
 

A disabled person is a person who has difficulties in adapting to social life and meeting his/her daily needs and needs protection, care, rehabilitation, counseling and support services due to the fact that he/she loses his/her physical, mental, spiritual, sensory and social abilities to various degrees for any reason at birth or later. (General Directorate of Disabled and Elderly Services, 2012)
 
Types of Disability

• Physical (orthopedic) disabilities
• Visually Impaired
• Hearing impaired
• Speech Handicapped
• Mentally handicapped

Relationship of Disability with Human Rights
There are important reasons why freedom is subject to human rights. These reasons can be listed as follows (World Health Organization, 2011):

• People with disabilities face inequality in their lives
• Violation of the dignity of people with disabilities
• People with disabilities being prevented from making their own decisions

With the agreement titled "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" published by the United Nations, more and more importance is given to the rights of people with disabilities in the world and their rights are gaining new dimensions.
The said agreement was approved in Turkey on 3/12/2008 and by Law No. 5825; was published as a Decision of the Council of Ministers on 27/5/2009 (Official Gazette, 2009).There are 50 articles in the convention published by the United Nations. In these articles, the purpose, definition, general principles and obligations of the Convention and many areas related to the disabled are mentioned. Each country that has signed the United Nations Convention is obliged to grant the right to education to the disabled according to Article 24 of the Convention. In order to ensure this right on the basis of equal opportunities and without discrimination, States parties should provide lifelong learning opportunities that include people with disabilities at all levels of the education system (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).In the national legislation regarding the right to education, the right to education is stated as follows in Article 42 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, titled "Right and Duty to Education and Training"; “No one can be deprived of the right to education and training.

The scope of the right to education is determined and regulated by law. Education and training is carried out under the supervision and supervision of the state in line with Atatürk's principles and reforms, according to contemporary science and education principles. Education and training places contrary to these principles cannot be opened. Freedom of education and training does not eliminate the obligation of loyalty to the Constitution. Primary education is compulsory for all citizens, boys and girls, and is free of charge in public schools. The principles to which private primary and secondary schools are subject are regulated by law in accordance with the level desired to be reached by public schools. The state provides the necessary aid through scholarships and other means in order for successful students who are deprived of financial opportunities to continue their education. The state takes measures to make those who need special education beneficial to society due to their situation. Only activities related to education, training, research and examination are carried out in education and training institutions. These activities cannot be prevented in any way. No language other than Turkish can be taught and taught to Turkish citizens as their mother tongue in educational and training institutions. The principles to which foreign languages to be taught in education and training institutions and schools providing education and training in a foreign language will be subject are regulated by law. The provisions of the international treaty are reserved” (Constitution of the Republic of Turkey).In Article 15 of the Law on
 Disabled People, titled Education and Training, it is written that "Disabled people cannot be prevented from receiving education for any reason, and disabled children, young people and adults should be provided with equal education opportunities with non-disabled people in integrated environments, taking into account their special situations and differences" (Disabled People and Some Lawson Amendments to Decree Laws, 2005).
Accessibility Standards

One of the most important topics that stand out and spread rapidly for accessibility
 in the world is "Universal Design".
Universal design has 7 principles for making accessible environments and buildings for everyone;
 1- Equal use
 2 - Flexibility in use, 
 3 - Simple and instinctive use
 4 - Perceivable information
 5 - Resistance to errors
 6 - Low physical effort
 7 - Space and size for approach and use. In order for a building to be accessible, not only the area inside and around the building, but also all the roads and vehicles for a disabled individual to reach that building should comply with the standards.The titles that should be considered and followed within the building are generally presented below:
 1. Building entrances
 2. In-building routes and corridors
 3. Ramps
 4. Edge protections
 5. Handrails
 6. Mailboxes
7. Horizontal circulation inside the building

• Space for wheelchairs and other assistive devices
• Floor and tiles
• Interior doors
• Building Components

8. Vertical circulation inside the building

• Elevators

• Stairs
• Stair glides

In Turkey, the "2010 Year of Accessibility for All Action Year" has been declared and it is planned to draw attention to the needs of disabled people and raise awareness about accessibility throughout the country. For this purpose, an Accessibility Strategy and a National Action Plan have been prepared. Within the framework of this plan, which consists of 8 priorities and 19 measures, accessibility determination forms have been prepared to determine the condition of the buildings. According to the items of these forms, the problems faced by disabled people in buildings in general can be listed as follows (Accessibility Determination Forms):
1. For wheelchair users:
         1.1 Level (elevation) difference between road and pavement 
         1.2 Narrow doors and high thresholds
         1.3 Toilets without no shower and seat, no emergency call
 2. For people having difficulty in walking:
         2.1 No handrails on ramps and stairways
         2.2 Unsuitable toilet width
         2.3 Doors of sufficient width and door sills not being standard
 3. For people who have difficulty using hands and arms:
         3.1 Lack of easy-to-open or automatic doors
         3.2 Lack of suitable door handles
         3.3 Lack of sensor taps intoilets
 4. For visually impaired:
         4.1 Lack of directional guide marks on the walking surface and curbs
         4.2 Lack of tactile signs for direction change on steps and ramps
         4.3 Lack of audible signs and embossed buttons on elevators
 5. For those with low vision:
           5.1 Not noticing the obstacles in the walking areas
           5.2 Not writing the signs in sufficiently large and prominent letters
           5.3 Not being clear about the location of the reinforcements
           5.4 Not having contrasting colors in the doors, handrails and marked places
 6. For people with hearing impairment:
            6.1 Lack of easily readable messages and signs
            6.2 Lack of illuminated alarms for doors, alarms and emergencies 
 

Physical Access Standards
 Blocks: 
 

• Obstructive objects on the road on the routes should be easy to see and the obstacles coinciding with the head should be hung somewhere above 2 m height,
• Obstacles on the routes should be distinguishable for those with low vision.

Markings:

• Maps, information boards, signs on the wall must be readable, distinguishable and above 90 cm (at least 120 cm, at most 160 cm) in height,
• Tables perpendicular to the walls or mounted on the ceiling must be at least 220 cm high,
• The writing style in the tables should be suitable for the disabled and have a non-glare surface.

Phones:

• At least one telephone must be available to a disabled person in a wheelchair.

Fountains and electric water fountains:

• Fountains should be easily opened and closed,
• The height of the electric water fountain should be maximum 90 cm.

 Ramps:

• It should be easily detectable from the side of the stairs or steps, its surface should be non-slippery, its width should be 90 cm, 6% or less sloping ramps.

Elevators:

• The door should be easily detectable, automatic elevators,
• The call buttons outside the cabin should be 90-120 cm high and embossed,
• The door opening should be more than 80 cm,
• There should be handles with a height of 80-85 cm from 3 sides in the cabin,
• The control panel should be 90-120 cm high and the buttons should be wide and embossed,
• It should be suitable for the visually and hearing impaired in case of emergency,
• The opening and closing time interval of the door should be sufficiently long,

 
Building entrances: 

• The first entrance to the building should be accessible and if there is a rotating door, there should be an alternative door with a width of 100 cm next to it,
• There should be no steps and stairs at the entrances,
• Entrance section should have sufficient space for wheelchair users,
• The entrance surface must be of non-slip material.

Between 2018 and 2019, there are a total of 5 disabled personnel and 32 disabled students at Istanbul Gelisim University. There is 1 physically disabled person in the Faculty of Fine Arts. There are a total of 7 students with disabilities in the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences; 2 with visual impairment, 3 with physical disability and 2 with language and speech problems. There are 1 Visually Impaired, 6 Hearing Impaired, 3 Physically Disabled and 1 Mentally Disabled student in the Vocational School. There are 2 visually impaired and 1 hearing impaired students in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. There are 1 Visually Impaired and 1 Mentally Disabled Student in the School of Health Sciences. There are 3 Visually Impaired and 3 Hearing Impaired Students in the Vocational School of Health Services. There is 1 Physically Disabled Student in the School of Applied Sciences.
 
Planned Works

1. Regarding Physical Accessibility; TSE norms- TS 9111 (accessibility requirements in buildings for disabled people and people with limited mobility, TS ISO 23599-13536 (auxiliary products for visually impaired or visually impaired people -perceptible walking surface signs, etc.) and the relevant provisions of the Disability Law No. 5378, which are indicated by the 3194 Zoning Law and the directives and regulations published in connection with these laws, have been planned and initiated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Disability Law No. 5378.
2. It is planned to make warning and guiding floor coverings and signboards.
3. It is planned to eliminate the deficiencies of disabled toilets in all buildings and campuses of Istanbul Gelisim University.
4. In accordance with the relevant Law, risk prevention (non-slip tape on the stairs, handrails, railings, etc.) elements are planned to be made together with the missing parts in accordance with the standard dimensions.
5. It is planned to re-examine the existing disabled toilets in order to bring them into line with the standards.
6. It is planned to create an emergency call button for disabled toilets.
7. All elevators are planned to be made suitable for the use of the visually impaired. (Elevator keys using Braille alphabet, audible warnings in elevators, etc.)
8. For the visually impaired, it is planned to hang floor plans created from the Braille alphabet on the floors.
9. It is planned to determine the places in the building that are inaccessible to the disabled and to take the necessary measures.
10. It is planned to identify the deficiencies in order for the disabled to reach all social areas. After the deficiencies are identified, it is planned to create a work plan.
11. In the landscaping of all buildings of Istanbul Gelisim University, it is necessary to request from the relevant units the renewal of inappropriate places on the ramps, the disorders related to the sidewalks and the nonconformities in the road crossings (no pedestrian roads, no traffic lights, etc.)
12. Shuttles working as a ring between the metrobus and the school are not suitable for the use of disabled people. It is planned to make these services suitable for the use of disabled people.
13. Floor plans for the visually impaired are planned to be made in the Braille alphabet and hung at the entrances.

 
Studies Conducted
 

1. All Blocks have elevators for disabled personnel, students and visitors. They have access to all floors. Inside the elevators, there are reliefs with Braille alphabet on the keypad for the visually impaired. (A and F Blocks )
2. There is a flat entrance on the side of the turnstiles for people using wheelchairs at the entrance of all Buildings. There is a wheelchair ramp at the building entrances where there is a level difference.
3. It is possible to reach the libraries in all Blocks by elevator. The library entrance is of appropriate width and size for the disabled. The people in charge of the library are present in the library during working hours to help students and employees with disabilities to take books from the upper shelves.
4. Emergency alarm systems are also available with lights for the hearing impaired.
5. Disabled Toilet is located in Block E, Block K-H-J-I and Block G.
6. There is 1 portable ramp for physically disabled people to access the stage in the conference halls. According to the activity, it is ensured that it is moved to the relevant area in advance.
7. The exams of disabled students are held in a separate area under the supervision of a supervisor.
8. For visually impaired students, a large-point questionnaire is applied in the exams.
9. Students, employees and visitors with disabilities mostly have access to canteens, cafeterias and other social areas.
10. Students with disabilities were asked their opinions and opinions about the problems they experienced. Accordingly, activities are organized for more awareness.
11. Health status was taken into consideration when distributing tasks for disabled personnel.

 
 
Works in Implementation Phase

1. The renovation of the areas with slopes higher than the standards on the disabled ramps at the building entrances and their adaptation to the standards have been initiated and continue.
2. An appropriate area is explored for buildings without disabled toilets. Studies are ongoing.
3. The Department of Construction Affairs continues its exploration activities regarding the shortcomings of the emergency button in the existing disabled toilets.
4. Studies are underway to ensure that the lengths of the information desks in libraries are accessible to people with disabilities.
5. In order for people with physical disabilities and wheelchair users to listen to lessons comfortably in the classrooms, efforts are ongoing to make the first rows suitable for use.
6. Price offers are collected from companies related to the use of Braille Alphabet in the audible warning system and keypads in the elevators. Studies are ongoing.
7. For visually impaired people, price offers are collected from the relevant companies for the application of embossed flooring so that they can access all classrooms and social areas inside from the outside of the building. After this stage, implementation will be started in other buildings, especially the Rectorate Building (A Block).
8. The adequacy of the emergency alarm button for the hearing impaired is evaluated. If it is not deemed sufficient after the drills, it will be replaced with more illuminating lamps. Studies are ongoing.
9. Price offers are received from the relevant companies in order to build a disabled elevator to the stairs where the physically disabled cannot access within the buildings. Studies are ongoing.

 
 Activities within the Scope of IGU Unimpeded University

Istanbul Gelisim University  (IGU) has made many improvements in the field of accessibility in space. In line with these developments, we aim to make our institution an accessible university.  In this direction, we would like to talk about the activities we have done and their contents. Istanbul Gelisim University met with the sports and educational sciences association (EBSED) in disabled individuals. At the meeting attended by Prof. Dr. Nail ÖZTAŞ, Health Culture and Sports Department Head Lect. Tekmil Sezen Göksu and EBSED board of directors, a decision was taken to cooperate on the "Sustainable Barrier-Free Campus" and "Accessible Campus" Projects.
The Hearing Devices Symposium held in 2018 is an activity held in the field of hearing impaired people in order to transfer the knowledge of technological devices and to provide convenience to them.
 Again, the Bulgurlu Disability-Free Life Center trip held in 2018 was organized to raise awareness of students and to manage joint projects and to try to bring disabled individuals into the society. In
 2019, a Disability-Free Empathy Dance Show was organized and empathy and awareness were provided in the field of disabled people. In 2019, an exhibition titled Disability-Free Art Designs was organized.
 A workshop was held to create a design that visualizes the difficulties of the disabled with graphic
 art and to turn this design into a product. Another of the activities carried out in
 2019. March 21 World Awareness Day for Down Syndromes was celebrated. In 2019, in order to celebrate the April 2 Autism Awareness Day , children with Autism were visited and activities were carried out with them.
   Other activities carried out in 2019 were carried out with the participation of IGU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Nail Öztaş and EBSED representatives in the event called IGU and Disabled Individuals Sports and Education Sciences Association Barrier-Free Campus Project, respectively.

The number of students with disabilities will increase with activities, competitions and activities. The university
 without disabilities is one of the basic elements of our ideal called 'Turkey without Disabilities‘, where individuals and all segments of society can overcome all physical, social, cultural and economic obstacles in front of them. We aim to build unimpeded universities where disabled individuals can use their higher education rights fully and effectively and equally, together with departments and campuses. In 2005, a law was enacted for the disabled
. Minister of Family, Labor and Social Services Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk stated that they acted towards the goal of  "Turkey without Disabilities". In 2005, a law on people with disabilities was enacted. The purpose of the law was to enable them to participate fully and effectively on equal terms with other individuals in social life, which forms the basis of today's ceremony. We also evaluate the university education of our disabled citizens within this framework. Education, like everyone else, is a basic and human right of our disabled individuals. We have opened the doors of higher education to them on this occasion. Again, after the law on the disabled we enacted in 2005, we took another reform step with the constitutional amendment in 2010 and the positive privilege related to our obstacles entered the constitutional text. We were among the first countries to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by signing it in 2007 under the presidency of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."
 
 
 
 
 
 During the IGU Online Promotion Days held byvideo
 conferencing method, our stakeholders held a live broadcast program with the Disabled Association EBSED and Sports Volunteers Association in the "Development with Stakeholders" program

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