MINISTER URALOĞLU: “WE STRIVE TO EASE THE LIVES OF DISABLED CITIZENS"
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu gathered with disabled personnel from the ministry for a breakfast program on Monday, May 13th, as part of World Disability Week. The event, attended by the Director General of Highways, Ahmet Gülşen, and disabled employees, took place at the General Directorate of Highways.
Minister Uraloğlu stressed the need for everyone to be sensitive towards improving the lives of disabled citizens, facilitating their integration into society, and enabling them to look forward to the future with hope. "This week serves as an opportunity for us as a society to be more aware of the challenges our disabled brothers and sisters face," he said. He noted that since 2002, the ministry has been actively working to promote equal opportunities in all areas, striving to make life easier for disabled citizens.
The first law concerning disability was enacted in 2005.
During an event marking significant advances in disability rights in Türkiye, Minister Uraloğlu highlighted that the country's first legislation in this field was passed in 2005. He stated that the law aimed to ensure that disabled citizens could fully and effectively participate in social life on equal terms with others, promoting and securing their basic rights and freedoms. Uraloğlu also noted that Türkiye was one of the first countries to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007, underlining its commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of disabled individuals.
"Significant efforts are underway to remove barriers"
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu emphasized the important initiatives undertaken by the Ministry to remove barriers for citizens with disabilities and promote their participation in society. Uraloğlu highlighted that various social responsibility campaigns have been launched to enrich and enhance the education infrastructure and quality for disabled citizens. He also noted that approximately 10% of the 70,000 disabled employees are employed within the Ministry.
Uraloğlu stated that efforts continue to ensure that all citizens with different needs have access to services and accessibility options tailored to them. "With the Accessible Transportation Strategy and Action Plan covering the years 2021-2025, announced to the public on December 4, 2021, we aimed to establish an accessible transportation system for everyone," he said. He emphasized that throughout the process of the action plan, the opinions and suggestions of relevant parties were valued. "We are moving forward with a vision to create a transportation network that eliminates differences at every step. From infrastructure to vehicles, from technology to increasing institutional capacity, from strengthening governance to increasing awareness, and from regulations and inspections to integrating modes of transportation, we have identified 6 strategic objectives, 14 targets, and 33 actions in our action plan," he added. The Ministry also organizes training sessions to increase awareness by placing accessibility at the center of all transportation-related practices. "Approximately 1000 individuals participating in our Ministry's relevant institutions have received training. I am proud to announce that for the first time in this field, we have prepared educational materials in a digital and accessible format for everyone," he concluded.
"Mobility for All"
Uraloğlu shared information that they are nearing completion of a mobile application titled "Mobility for All." "With this application, planned to be launched this year, we aim to meet all the transportation needs of disabled citizens, from the companion module to the disabled transportation services module, from the feedback module aimed at improving the accessibility of the transportation system to the sign language call center support," he said. "We aim to eliminate or minimize all the problems that disabled individuals may encounter before and during their travels with this application. Thus, by promoting mobility, we will facilitate the social and economic participation of our disabled brothers and sisters."
Expressing that being disabled is not a deficiency or a flaw, just as being healthy is not a source of superiority, Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that building a happy society is only possible through awareness. He sincerely believes that Disability Awareness Week will strengthen our solidarity and unity with disabled citizens and calls on the whole community to act more responsibly, show greater sensitivity, and contribute to solving the problems of the disabled.
