Disability accessibility and support in Turkey

Various initiatives and challenges regarding accessibility for citizens with disabilities have been reported across several Turkish municipalities.

In late September, municipalities implemented programs to support hearing-impaired citizens during the International Week of the Deaf. In Tekirdağ, the ‘Benim Sesim’ project utilized Turkish Sign Language interpreters via video calls, while the city also provided vibrating and lighted baby monitors to hearing-impaired parents. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality offered sign language interpretation for healthcare and transportation, alongside water bill discounts and employment support. In Kahramanmaraş, similar safety measures such as lighted doorbells were installed in homes, and in Ayvalık, dental treatments were provided to individuals with disabilities.

By October, reports emerged regarding accessibility obstacles for the visually impaired. In Diyarbakır, residents noted that tactile paving, or yellow guide paths, were frequently obstructed by parked vehicles and business equipment. Conversely, in Keşan, community and police support enabled a visually impaired individual to participate in a motorcycle convoy to encourage social engagement among people with disabilities.