Disability rights advocates in Turkey call for improved accessibility

Advocates in Turkey are calling for improved accessibility and social inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Kadir Kerimoğlu, the Mardin Provincial Chair of the DEVA Party, emphasized that urban quality of life depends on providing opportunities for all citizens. He stressed that public spaces, including parks, sports areas, and cultural centers, must be designed to allow people with disabilities to participate in social life without needing constant assistance, particularly noting the importance of adapting Mardin’s unique historical texture for accessibility.

Simultaneously, Metin Fırat, the Elazığ Branch President of the Turkish Disabled Association, highlighted a specific grievance regarding public transportation. Currently, holders of Disability Identity Cards are often required to obtain separate transportation cards to use transit services in different cities. Fırat is advocating for the Disability Identity Card to be recognized as a sufficient, single document for free and seamless travel across all cities in Turkey. This issue has been brought to the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey through the efforts of various lawmakers to ensure more equitable access to mobility.