Office of Students with Disability brought accessibility and inclusion priorities to the Turkish Parliament

Representatives of the Istanbul Medipol University Office of Students with Disability and accompanying students held a series of important meetings at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM). As part of the visit, the delegation met with Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, Chair of the Parliamentary Commission on the Problems of Persons with Disabilities and Member of Parliament for İzmir, to discuss the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in various areas ranging from education to social life, as well as potential solutions. 

Led by Edanur Hıra, Coordinator of the Istanbul Medipol University Office of Students with Disability, the visit provided an opportunity to share information about the university’s efforts in accessibility and inclusion. Students also had the chance to directly convey their experiences and expectations.

Topics discussed during the meeting included equal opportunities in education, accessible campus practices, increasing participation in social life, employment opportunities, and the barriers individuals with disabilities encounter in their daily lives. The meeting served as an important platform for communicating the needs of persons with disabilities to decision-making bodies.
 

DR. KASAPOĞLU EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION
Following the visit, Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, Chair of the Parliamentary Commission on the Problems of Persons with Disabilities, emphasized the importance of initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of individuals with disabilities and stated: 

“We were pleased to welcome representatives of the Istanbul Medipol University Office of Students with Disability and our students to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. We had the opportunity to discuss their efforts to strengthen the concept of the accessible university, the challenges faced by our students with disabilities, and potential solutions. I would like to thank the representatives of the Istanbul Medipol University Office of Students with Disability and our valued students for their kind visit and meaningful contributions.”
 

HIRA: IT IS INVALUABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS
Commenting on the visit, Edanur Hıra, Coordinator of the Istanbul Medipol University Office of Students with Disability, emphasized the importance of connecting students’ voices with policymakers:

“This visit, which we carried out together with our students, provided an opportunity to directly share the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in both educational and social settings. We had a productive discussion with Mr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu on accessibility, equal opportunity, and inclusive practices. The opportunity for our students to communicate their experiences and expectations was extremely valuable in terms of developing solution-oriented policies.”

Hıra concluded by stating that while Istanbul Medipol University continues its efforts to create an accessible and inclusive educational environment, it will also maintain its awareness-raising and advocacy activities aimed at improving the quality of life of individuals with disabilities.

The visit to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye strengthened cooperation between the university and public institutions while making a significant contribution to efforts aimed at advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities and ensuring their more active participation in society.