TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Days, which was held for the 11th time this year, was organized in cooperation with the Presidential Disabled Persons Committee, Near East University, Manisa Celal Bayar University, TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Platform and Turkey Barrier-Free Informatics Platform.
Barrier-free informatics is organized to ensure that individuals with different physical or cognitive disabilities can effectively access technological resources such as computers and the internet. “Barrier-Free Informatics Days” was organized at the Near East University İrfan Günsel Congress Center in cooperation with the TRNC Presidential Disabled Persons Committee, Manisa Celal Bayar University, TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Platform and Turkey Barrier-Free Informatics Platform.
The vision meeting hosted by Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ and held with intense participation was attende by President Ersin Tatar, Manisa Celal Bayar University Rector Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar, TRNC Presidential Disabled Persons Committee Chairman Ahmet Akdeniz, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Strategy Development Directorate Head of Quality Management Erhan Elibol, Turkish Barrier-Free Informatics Platform Coordinator and Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty Member Dr. M. Özhan Kalaç, TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Platform Coordinator and Near East University faculty member Prof. Dr. Fahriye Altınay, Cyprus Turkish Orthopedically Disabled Association President Günay Kibrit, deans, faculty members, students and guests.
The opening speeches of the meeting, which started with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem were delivered by President Ersin Tatar, Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Manisa Celal Bayar University Rector Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar, Turkey Barrier-Free Informatics Platform Coordinator and Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty Member Dr. Mustafa Özhan Kalaç, TRNC Presidential Disabled Persons Committee Chairman Ahmet Akdeniz and Near East University Social Research and Development Center President Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay.
In the meeting that lasted all day and consisted of four sessions; the topics of“Successful Barrier-Free Informatics Applications in Turkey”, “Alo 123 Demand Management System”, “Accessible Applications”, “Artificial Intelligence Supported Digital Accessibility Solutions”, “Barrier-Free Informatics Studies Process in TRNC”, “SDG Studies and Barrier-Free Informatics” and “TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Technology Studies” were discussed.
President Ersin Tatar: “I would like to thank you for bringing such an organization to the TRNC and maintaining it for years.”
President Ersin Tatar started his speech by saying “We live in such an age that all obstacles are now being overcome one by one.” Referring to the importance of social awareness and studies supported by legal regulations, President Tatar thanked everyone who supported these studies in the country.
Congratulating the Near East University and its stakeholders, who pioneered the workshop held for the 11th time this year, President Tatar said, “I would like to thank you for bringing such an organization to the TRNC and continuing it for years.” Stating that reintegrating nearly 6,500 disabled citizens in TRNC into society is among their most important goals, President Tatar said, “It is not possible for us to ignore their problems. We must work as one for their needs and overcome their obstacles. Our ongoing cooperation with Turkey will continue in this field.”
President Tatar said, “With one heart, we will continue to work and strive for our disabled individuals by making use of the opportunities we have to the fullest,” and said, “Endless thanks to everyone who supported and contributed to the work here.”
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Barrier-free informatics is not only an ethical responsibility, but also has critical importance for social justice and equality.”
Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ started his speech by saying “Barrier-Free Informatics, in addition to its content and social function, is also extremely important in terms of showing the results of long-term inter-institutional collaborations.”
Reminding that the aim is to ensure the right of access to information for every individual of the society and to create a digital environment where obstacles are overcome, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “The awareness created by this scientific vision meeting and the results obtained have led to significant progress in the access of disabled individuals to information and communication technologies. However, we are also aware that there are many obstacles to overcome and significant tasks to be completed.”
Barrier-free informatics consists of processes and applications designed to enable people who may have physical, sensory or physiological disabilities to effectively access technological resources such as computers and the internet. Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said; “We aim to ensure equal access to power and reduce inequalities. Barrier-free informatics is not only an ethical responsibility, but also social justice and a critical right to gain. I am sure that concrete results will be achieved that will make the lives of disabled citizens easier.”
Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar: “Barrier-Free Informatics is an important event that makes the concept of technology being accessible and usable for everyone.”
Manisa Celal Bayar University Rector Prof. Rana Kibar and her accompanying delegation after attending the Barrier-Free Informatics Days event, visited the Near East University DESAM Research Institute, TRNC’s domestic car GÜNSEL, the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts and the Cyprus Car Museum, and held contacts with the Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ to develop existing collaborations between the two universities.
In his speech at the Barrier-Free Informatics Days, Rana Kibar said, “Barrier-Free Informatics is an important event that makes the concept of being accessible and usable for everyone who is technological and savvy.”
Stating that there is a lot of information sharing within the scope of Barrier-free informatics diaries, Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar said, “Today, we came together to increase the informatics capacity of disabled citizens in various fields such as transportation, education, health and social life, especially for the difficulties faced by disabled citizens. This event offers the opportunity to examine and share opportunities to increase the freedom of life of disabled people, overcome the obstacles they face in daily life, and provide equal opportunities in the digital world.”
Ahmet Akdeniz: “We aim to produce solutions by making disabled people the focal point”
Ahmet Akdeniz, Chairman of the Disabled Persons Committee of the TRNC Presidency, said at Barrier-Free Informatics Days, “Since 2013, we have gone beyond empathy in order to impact the lives of disabled people with Barrier-Free Informatics Days, of which we are one of the users. Today, we closely follow the important aspects of disabled people’s inclusion in life and improve their lives, and we aim to implement the necessary practices.”
Ahmet Akdeniz, who said “6500 disabled people have had a positive impact by supporting the achievements we have made and with the contributions of Near East University. We have always wanted the disabled to reach their own decisions in the eyes of the state, and we achieved our goal. One of the biggest benefits of Barrier-Free Informatics days is that relevant parties come together and find common solutions for services.”
Dr. Mustafa Özhan Kalaç: “We continue to move forward with informatics to remove obstacles by carrying out many studies together in the future.”
Turkey Barrier-Free Informatics Platform Coordinator and Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty Member Dr. Mustafa Özhan in his speech, Mustafa Özhan Kalaç said, “This year, we are organizing Barrier-Free Informatics Days for the 11th time in the TRNC. During this process, we gained many experiences together and carried out important studies on sharing information. At this point, the TRNC Presidency and the Near East University have a great role. All these will enable us to continue moving forward with informatics to remove obstacles by carrying out many studies together in the future.”
Emphasizing that information technologies are increasing, their importance has been proven once again by the pandemics and natural disasters experienced in recent years. Mustafa Özhan Kalaç emphasized that this importance is much more important for disabled individuals. Kalaç said, “In addition to spatial accessibility, difficulties in access features of disabled people also come to the fore. Because we have been carrying out the Accessible Libraries Workshop for three years in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of Tourism in Turkey.” Mustafa Özhan Kalaç said, “Similar studies continue to be carried out in 2024, especially on the Accessible Libraries Workshop and earthquake training, in cooperation with Near East University.”
Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay: “One of the most important functions of Barrier-Free Informatics days was to intensify the meeting of disabled citizens.”
Head of Near East University Social Research and Development Center Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay’s speech started by emphasizing that the Barrier-Free Informatics Days event was realized with sincerity, sense of sharing and cooperation.
“As educators, we try to implement all practices with the responsibility of being the voice of our disabled students. One of the most important functions of Barrier-Free Informatics Days is to raise the voices of our disabled citizens.” said Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay, and added; “With Barrier-Free Informatics Days, we aim to contribute to the development of more accessible and participatory solutions in the field of informatics by increasing the interaction between educators, technology experts and disabled citizens.”
