The dinner was attended by first lady Hayrünnisa Gül, the wife of Turkish President Abdullah Gül, as a part of a series of visits planned to seven cities aiming to promote the campaign. Delivering a speech at the dinner, she stressed that in order to enable disabled children to get an education, everyone should do what he or she can to help. Even though NGOs, people from the business sector and art circles and government agencies support the campaign, she stated that some parents are still reluctant to send their disabled children to school and urged school administrators to eliminate all possible doubts of these families.
Deputy from İstanbul and Beyazay Association Chairman Lokman Ayva, who is visually impaired, emphasized the importance of educating the public that disabled people can also receive an education and participate in society just like everyone else. “We need people to put psychological pressure on the parents of disabled kids who are not sending their children to school,” he added. Using himself as an example, he shared his own story to illustrate the change that education can bring to the lives of both disabled people and their families. “In the past my mother worried about me and wondered who would take care of me in her absence. But now she is using my health insurance to cover her hospital costs. Thanks to God, I can now help my mother, who used to have no hope for my future,” he said.
Besides politicians and people from the art and business circles, two disabled students who received top ranking on the Student Selection Examination (ÖSS), the nationwide university exam, were also among the guests. Samet Fidan and Sercan Aydın ranked 160th and 176th, respectively, in the Turkish social sciences section of the ÖSS, even though they are both visually impaired. Speaking to Today's Zaman, Aydın, who is planning to apply to the literature department at Boğaziçi University, believed disabled students would perform better in school if the chance to enroll was given to them.
As a result of the campaign, Turkey's first college focusing on the education of disabled children was launched in Esenyurt. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday with Hayrünnisa Gül in attendance.
The campaign, which was launched at a gathering at the Çankaya presidential palace on April 21, aims to include all people with disabilities in the country and intends to better equip schools and other educational institutions so that they can be accessible and provide opportunities for the disabled. Under the guidance of the first lady, the Beyazay Association -- an advocacy group for the disabled -- is coordinating the campaign, which will last for three years.
