Disability Access Programs (Mentoring & Targeted Support)

Sakarya University implements a comprehensive and sustained access program for students with disabilities, coordinated through the Barrier-Free Life & Support Coordinatorship. The program integrated mentoring-style guidance, targeted support mechanisms, financial assistance, and awareness-building activities across all faculties. The university’s actions reflected both structural and human support—covering infrastructure, policy, and mentorship—to ensure that students with disabilities could participate fully in academic and social life.

These services include, but are not limited to:

• Barrier-Free Life and Support Coordinatorship: This unit is responsible for identifying and addressing the specific academic, administrative, physical, psychological, and social needs of students with disabilities. In 2024, it organized initiatives such as the Accessible Summer School, which brought together students, faculty mentors, and peers to strengthen inclusion; and the Accessible Life Representatives coordination meetings to align faculty-level accessibility efforts. The unit also promoted TESYEV bursaries, provided onboarding for newly admitted students, and implemented comprehensive academic and exam adaptations including extra time, accessible materials, and reader/scribe support.
• Campus Accessibility: The university has implemented extensive physical modifications across campus under the Green Campus Initiative, including ramps, elevators, tactile guidance paths, induction loops, and accessible toilets to accommodate individuals with mobility or visual impairments. These improvements ensure that all students and staff can navigate the campus safely and independently.
• The university provides physical accessibility for hearing-impaired individuals through induction loop systems in the Medico Health Center and the Cultural & Congress Center. In addition, 120 hours of Turkish Sign Language training was delivered to healthcare staff to ensure accessible communication in clinical services. Children requiring special care are prioritized for outpatient or general anesthesia treatment in the Pediatric Dentistry Department.
• Specialized Support Services: Sakarya University provides personalized services such as mentoring, peer assistance, and academic counseling, specifically tailored for students with disabilities. In 2024, targeted workshops like Preparing Accessible Social Media Posts and Braille Alphabet Qur’an Teaching further strengthened inclusive communication and independent learning.
• Technological Aids: The university offers adaptive technologies, including screen readers, braille printers, magnifiers, and speech-to-text tools, to ensure students with disabilities can fully engage with their coursework and other learning materials.
• Special Education Department: This department contributes to the development of strategies, tools, and educational practices that promote the independence, inclusion, and academic success of students with disabilities, preparing them for participation in both academic and everyday settings.

Complementing these targeted services, Student Housing provisions include rooms adapted for students with disabilities, while the Academic Units network ensures that inclusive practices are applied across all faculties and institutes. Regular communication through the university’s News and Events Portals keeps accessibility initiatives visible, while recognition such as the Accessible Informatics Education Award highlights Sakarya University’s national leadership in accessible and inclusive higher education.

In 2024, Sakarya University carried out a series of impactful programs supporting inclusion and empowerment:

- Training for YÖK Accessible University Awards (02 Jan 2024): Internal coordination to align institutional practices with national accessibility standards.

- Accessible Summer School Orientation (12 Aug 2024): Facilitated peer interaction and inclusive academic participation at the Faculty of Law.

- Braille Alphabet Qur’an Teaching Course (12 Sep 2024): Expanded accessible religious and cultural learning opportunities for visually impaired students.

- Accessible Life Representatives Coordination Meeting (06 Nov 2024): Ensured faculty-level accountability and planning for ongoing accessibility improvements.

- Disability, Rights-Based Approach & Accessible Environment Forum (18 Dec 2024): Strengthened institutional awareness and policy reflection on disability rights.

- Preparing Accessible Social Media Posts Training (21 Mar 2024): Improved accessible communication practices across digital platforms.

- Accessible Informatics Education Award (26 Sep 2024): National recognition of SAU’s leadership in digital accessibility and inclusive academic technologies.

- YÖK Accessible University Awards – Flag and Badge Recognition (06 June 2024): Awarded Green, Blue, and Program Badges for excellence in accessible education, infrastructure, and social participation.

These initiatives collectively strengthened inclusive growth, empowerment, and equitable access—core objectives of Reduced Inequalities. SAU’s sustained commitment to barrier-free education demonstrates a strategic and cultural prioritization of diversity, accessibility, and human-centered learning. The university’s coordinated approach continues to reduce inequality on campus, ensuring that all students are able to learn, participate, and thrive within a supportive and equitable environment.

Through these integrated services—combining mentoring, infrastructure improvement, assistive technologies, and awareness-raising activities—Sakarya University continues to uphold its commitment to inclusive, equitable, and barrier-free education for all students.

 

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