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ANKARA YILDIRIM BEYAZIT UNIVERSITY

DISABILITY SUPPORT UNIT

In order to facilitate the academic life of students with disabilities in higher education, and to take necessary measures and make relevant arrangements, the "Disability Support Unit" of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University was established by the decision of the University Senate dated 22.02.2012 and numbered 6-2, in accordance with the Law No. 5378 on “Amendments to Laws and Decrees on the Rights of People with Disabilities” and the “Regulation on Counseling and Coordination for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education Institutions” prepared by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Operating under the Department of Health, Culture, and Sports initially, the "Accessible AYBU Unit" has been serving under the Rectorate of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University since 2013.

Our Objectives

These include all services aimed at facilitating the lives of academic staff, administrative staff, and students with disabilities at our university; meeting their needs in processes such as education, accommodation, transportation, and physical space usage; and increasing their success by ensuring their participation in events organized within the university.

In line with this goal, the duties assigned to the Disabled Student Support Unit under the Regulation on Counseling and Coordination for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education Institutions can be summarized as follows:

Duties of the Unit

1. To identify the needs of students with disabilities enrolled in higher education programs in areas such as education, scholarships, administration, physical environment, accommodation, and social life; to propose solutions and take measures to meet these needs.
2. To ensure that teaching programs are organized in a way that does not hinder the academic, physical, psychological, and social lives of students with disabilities by arranging educational environments, providing equipment and special teaching materials, and preparing suitable education, research, and accommodation settings.
3. To conduct publication activities for students and academic staff, prepare informative documents explaining disabilities and required arrangements to raise awareness, provide consultancy services, and offer in-service training when needed. To develop relevant programs and projects.
4. To prepare and execute the work program of the unit, draft the annual budget and annual activity report, and submit them to the assigned vice-rector.
5. To organize seminars, conferences, and similar activities.
6. To create a website featuring publications, documents, and information relevant to the duties of the Disabled Student Support Unit, allowing disabled students to voice their problems and communicate with the unit.
7. To supervise the implementation of decisions and strategies adopted by the unit.
8. To work toward providing necessary assistive devices for disabled students with financial difficulties, free of charge.
9. To ensure fair and accurate assessment of all students, promote equal opportunities, and take necessary measures related to exam duration, setting, materials, assistants, and accommodations based on the nature of the disability.
10. To prepare and distribute informative books about employment opportunities and professions to students with disabilities.
11. To establish communication and maintain continuity with other universities’ disabled student units.
12. To create a data collection and archiving unit within the Disabled Counseling Unit to offer better services to students with disabilities.
13. To plan for and create a volunteer student support pool to assist students with disabilities.
14. To prioritize disabled students in part-time work planning for support purposes.
15. To identify and evaluate the scholarship needs of disabled students.
16. To offer psychological support services to meet the psycho-social needs of disabled students.
17. To take necessary measures to ensure the participation of disabled students in university-organized social activities.
18. To take measures for the orientation of newly enrolled disabled students (such as forming support groups with volunteers).
19. To identify and begin processes to meet assistive technology needs (e.g., orthoses, prostheses) of disabled students.
20. To prepare reports regarding programs available for disabled students before university entrance exams and submit them to the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM); to develop service models and conduct evaluations and implementations.

Our Goals

1. To identify and resolve social issues faced by disabled students from their first day at the university, with their participation in developing solutions and implementing changes.
2. To raise awareness among academic and administrative staff about disability through social programs and related activities.
3. To ensure that our disabled students benefit from the university to the fullest during their education by fostering supportive conditions.
4. To collaborate with other institutions on disability issues to contribute to developments in the field of disability welfare.
5. To support social projects sensitive to disability issues under the scope of community service applications.
6. To regularly share information about the social rights of disabled students on the web to maintain sustainable knowledge exchange.
7. To institutionalize cooperation, participation, and feedback in problem-solving and developing new service models.
8. To make the “Social Support Line” functional, allowing disabled students to share their problems and seek help.
9. To support all disabled students at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University in educational, social, and cultural areas and contribute to creating a pioneering university free of barriers.
10. To make physical arrangements such as ramps, disabled toilets, elevators, and parking spaces.
11. To ensure more active use of the Disabled Student Support Unit by students with disabilities.
12. To create a website with documents, publications, and contact options, allowing students to share their problems and connect with the unit.
13. To identify the needs and potential barriers faced by disabled students and staff at the university, develop solutions, and make necessary arrangements.
14. To develop programs and projects; establish service units such as audio libraries and technology laboratories according to disability groups; coordinate with existing libraries and labs.
15. To organize social-cultural activities on disability and provide access to sports facilities.
16. To make available and distribute informative documents about employment and professions, and create new ones if needed.
17. To offer career planning, professional development, psychological and personal counseling services by collaborating with psychologists, social workers, and educators.
18. To organize talks with successful individuals with disabilities or people who can share knowledge and experience on disability issues, and facilitate brainstorming meetings among students with disabilities.
19. To provide suitable internship opportunities for students with disabilities.
20. To offer support through university health services when needed.
21. To give priority to disabled students in accessing scholarships, free meals, and similar opportunities.
22. To find solutions for accommodation issues faced by disabled students.