The Engelsiz Dokuz Eylül Coordination, established in 2009, aims to make all the opportunities provided by our university accessible and reachable for our special needs students in every aspect. The support and access services offered within the coordination are not limited to our students and staff but also encompass all citizens in our region. Our university places great importance on creating living spaces where not only our special needs students and staff but also all members of society can equally and fairly benefit, in line with this idea. Within the Buca Faculty of Education Campus, where the Coordination is located, the “Plus Us” cafeteria is seen as one of the most prestigious and current social projects serving this special purpose.
To facilitate spatial accessibility, accessible bus services are provided through our campus at Tınaztepe Campus, offering accessible transportation services within the campus for our special needs students and citizens.
To ensure access to information for visually impaired students at our university, the Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Central Library provides services by offering course materials and works in accessible formats through their hardware and software technologies.
In order to facilitate access for hearing impaired students to social and cultural activities held in enclosed spaces, the Induction Loop System is implemented in challenging acoustic environments to enable clear and healthy sounds to be heard. Additionally, the Audio Guidance System has been activated in several locations to facilitate access for visually impaired students in enclosed spaces. Participation of special needs students in decision-making processes is of great importance. To this end, mechanisms such as the “University Disabled Student Representation” and “Academic Unit Disabled Student Representation” are operated, alongside “Disabled Student Advisors” who provide support to students in all matters within academic units.
As a tangible proof of the activities carried out by our Coordination to increase the educational opportunities, spatial usage, and accessibility to socio-cultural activities of our special needs students, it has been honored with the “Accessible University Flag Awards” organized by the Higher Education Council. Our Coordination aims to increase its success each year compared to the previous year and continues its efforts to carry out new activities and projects for individuals with special needs.