Disability Accommodation & Access Programs

Sakarya University is firmly committed to inclusivity and ensuring equal access to education for all students, including those with disabilities. To fulfill this commitment, the university established the Engelsiz Yaşam ve Destek Koordinatörlüğü (Barrier-Free Life and Support Coordinatorship), which is responsible for identifying and addressing the academic, administrative, physical, psychological, accommodation, and social needs of students with disabilities. Through this coordination, the university provides a comprehensive range of services and reasonable accommodations that enable students with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of university life.

These services include, but are not limited to:

• Accessible Facilities: Ensuring that all buildings and classrooms are equipped with necessary accessibility features, such as elevators, ramps, and tactile guidance paths, to facilitate easy movement throughout the campus.
• Assistive Technologies: Providing access to specialized devices and software tailored to individual needs, including screen readers, magnifiers, and speech-to-text applications, to support academic success.
• Personal Assistance: Offering services such as sign language interpreters and personal assistants to aid in communication and daily activities, ensuring effective engagement with academic content and campus life.
• Psychological Counseling and Guidance: Delivering counseling services to help students adapt to university life, manage stress, and overcome personal challenges.

Building on this comprehensive framework, in 2024 Sakarya University implemented a coordinated strategy that further strengthened and expanded its accessibility and support initiatives. The Coordinatorship set clear institutional goals to eliminate barriers faced by students with disabilities and to ensure equal participation in academic, social, and cultural life. These efforts were reinforced by campus-wide infrastructure improvements under the Green Campus initiative—such as accessible routes, induction loops, and specialized facilities for visually impaired students—as well as adapted dormitory rooms in the Esentepe Student Dormitory. The university’s English and Turkish web portals consolidate these resources, while the Engelsiz SAU overview highlights ongoing mentoring, orientation, and targeted support programs. Some realted programs are as follows:

Institutional Framework & Support Units: The Barrier-Free Life & Support Coordinatorship (Engelsiz SAU) provides academic accommodations, psycho-social counseling, mentoring, assistive technology access, and onboarding support. Its mission emphasizes rights-based empowerment and equal participation across academic, social, and cultural environments.

Campus & Physical Accessibility: The Green Campus initiative maintains accessible pathways, ramps, elevators, tactile surfaces, induction loops, priority parking, and maternity-friendly spaces. These universal design elements ensure safe and independent mobility for all.

Housing & Residential Accessibility: Dormitory facilities include specially adapted rooms and barrier-free shared environments, supporting independent living for students with disabilities.

Academic Unit-Level Coordination: Accessibility practices are implemented across all faculties, vocational schools, and institutes through faculty-level Accessible Life Representatives, ensuring consistent monitoring and institutional accountability.

Key Activities & Recognitions (2024)

• 02 Jan 2024 – Training for YÖK Accessible University Awards: Capacity-building for accessibility standards.

• 12 Aug 2024 – Accessible Summer School: Inclusive academic engagement and peer mentoring.

• 23 Sep 2024 – Accessible Informatics Education Award: National recognition for leadership in accessible digital learning.

• 06 Nov 2024 – Accessible Life Representatives Meeting: Faculty-level coordination for improvement planning.

• 18 Dec 2024 – Rights-Based Disability Forum: Promoted disability as a human rights framework.

• 06 June 2024 – YÖK Accessible University Flag & Badge Awards: Recognition for excellence in accessible education, social participation, and cultural inclusion.

 

Through these integrated services, infrastructure investments, and awareness-raising activities, Sakarya University continues to demonstrate strong leadership in building an inclusive, accessible, and equitable higher-education environment for all learners. Sakarya University demonstrates sustained institutional commitment to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities through:

• Policy-driven inclusion structures

• Accessibility-centered campus design

• Assistive technology and academic accommodations

• Faculty-based coordination networks

• National-level recognition and continuous improvement

This integrated model ensures that students with disabilities can learn, participate, and thrive within an equitable, barrier-free environment.

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