The “TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Days”, which started at the Near East University with the participation of President Ersin Tatar, brought together experts from Turkey and Northern Cyprus.
The 12th “Barrier-Free Informatics Days”, carried out in cooperation with the Near East University, the TRNC Presidential Disabled Committee, Manisa Celal Bayar University, the TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Platform and the Turkey Barrier-Free Informatics Platform, brought together experts with the aim of eliminating obstacles in the digital world.
President Ersin Tatar, Manisa Celal Bayar University Rector Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar, Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Kyrenia University Rector Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, Presidential Disabled Persons Committee Chairman Ahmet Akdeniz, Cyprus Hearing and Speech Impaired Persons Foundation Chairman Bahire Coşkuner Doğru, Cyprus Turkish Photography Association Chairman Ramadan Gümuşok, Cyprus Turkish Orthopedic Disabled Persons Association Chairman Günay Kibrit attended the opening ceremony and academicians, students and guests showed great participation.
The opening speeches of the event, which started with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, were delivered by President Ersin Tatar, Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Manisa Celal Bayar University Rector Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar, Presidential Disabled Persons Committee Chairman Ahmet Akdeniz, Turkey Barrier-Free Informatics Platform Coordinator Lecturer Dr. Mustafa Özhan Kalaç and Social Research and Development Center Chairman and TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Platform Coordinator Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay.
At the event held at the Near East University Irfan Günsel Congress Center, products produced by the handiwork of disabled individuals were exhibited at the art exhibition and bazaar organized by Nicosia and Mağusa Special Education Schools. The income obtained from the sale of the products presented to the participants provided financial support to the schools. In addition, the photography exhibition titled “Living with Disability” by the Cyprus Turkish Photography Association was opened to visitors at the opening.
Accessibility and the integration of technology into social life were discussed
Within the scope of Barrier-Free Informatics Days, three different panels titled “Barrier-Free Informatics Studies in Turkey”, “Web Accessibility Education”, “TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Studies”, “TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Projects” were held. In his presentation titled “Barrier-Free Access Studies in Electronic Communication”, Enes Dayan shared important information on how digital communication can be made more accessible for disabled individuals. Then, Belgüzar Aksoy Güler, in her speech on “Accessible Library Studies – Video Book Application for the Hearing Impaired”, addressed how library resources can be made more accessible for the hearing impaired. Corpowel Digital Accessibility CEO İslam Rızabeyli touched upon the importance of digital transformation in terms of social inclusiveness and accessibility with the subject of “Inclusivity and Accessibility in the Digital World”.
President Ersin Tatar: “We will continue to work for our disabled individuals in the TRNC to ensure that they live a happier and freer life.”
President Ersin Tatar, who stated that “We are working resolutely in cooperation with our state institutions and organizations so that our disabled individuals can live an easier life. We aim to overcome obstacles and provide a more accessible life by taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the internet and communication technologies.”
President Ersin Tatar, who emphasized the importance of being able to easily access state services, quickly access their personal information and carry out their transactions in state offices without waiting in line with the completion of the e-Government project, said “These efforts are especially meaningful for our disabled individuals. Every individual has the right to live under equal conditions and access opportunities. Acting with this understanding, we will continue to work for our disabled individuals in the TRNC to live a happier and freer life.”
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “We will continue to work together for a more accessible, more inclusive and more equal world.”
Stating that accessibility is of great importance not only for individuals but also for the future of societies, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “A barrier-free world is not just a vision, but also our responsibility. Barrier-free informatics is the reflection of the principle of equality, one of the fundamental values of modern societies, in the digital world. Securing the right to access information for every individual will ensure that society has a more equal, inclusive and fair structure.” Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ also said, “Barrier-Free Informatics Days, which has been organized since 2013, has been an important milestone in terms of creating awareness and developing solutions. Thus, we will continue to work together for a more accessible, more inclusive and more equal world.”
Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar: “Our aim is to minimize the obstacles that disabled individuals face in education and social life, and to provide a more equal and accessible university environment.”
Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar, who started her speech by saying “The fact that an event is being organized for the 12th time actually emphasizes a very important success and sustainability,” emphasized the importance of “Barrier-Free Informatics Days.” Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar said “One of the most important issues that needs to be emphasized today is ensuring accessibility for all individuals under equal conditions and opportunities. While one of the basic pillars of this is accessibility in social life, the other important pillar is access to equal opportunities in education.”
Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar, who said “Our aim is to minimize the obstacles that disabled individuals face in education and social life, and to provide a more equal and accessible university environment,” also talked about the work they do as Manisa Celal Bayar University. Prof. Dr. Kibar said, “We aimed to make the lives of disabled individuals easier by taking measures to facilitate accessibility in our newly constructed buildings. We intensified our work in this area in 2024. In order to support equality in education, we created additional quotas in various departments for our disabled students in postgraduate education applications. While determining these quotas, we acted in line with the number of disabled students and the requests received.”
Ahmet Akdeniz: “We aim to transform the lives of six thousand disabled individuals in our country together.”
Beginning his speech by thanking Near East University, Presidential Disabled Persons Committee Chairman Ahmet Akdeniz said, “We have carried out very important and precious work hosted by Near East University. At this point, the establishment of such a committee within the Presidency lies in the experiences and efforts gained in these works. The congresses and panels we attend and the scientific studies we conduct at the university are very important because all data is now turning from theory to practice. I would like to thank Near East University once again, which focuses on this process and provides scientific contributions for the effective participation of disabled individuals in society.”
Ahmet Akdeniz, who stated that “We aim to transform the lives of six thousand disabled individuals in our country together,” also added; One of our priorities should be to eliminate the accessibility problems of visually impaired individuals in particular. It is of great importance that the digital tools we have today are designed in a way that is accessible to the visually impaired. I believe that all institutions and organizations will make more progress in this area and lead to important changes.”
Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay: “I believe that this unity and cooperation will be a source of inspiration for a more egalitarian and conscious society.”
Starting her speech by saying “The message we have been giving tirelessly for years is that the social transformation is possible together. Today, we are happy to host a conference that is also scientifically important.” Social Research and Development Center President and TRNC Barrier-Free Informatics Platform Coordinator Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay thanked everyone who contributed to the conference.
Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay said, “This conference will create a roadmap on how we can bring education and technology together and move society forward. I believe that this unity and cooperation will be a source of inspiration for a more equal and conscious society.”
Assist. Prof. Mustafa Özhan Kalaç: “Web pages and mobile software play a critical role in disabled individuals’ access to services.”
Stating that barrier-free IT studies that have been carried out with intense participation keep hopes for the future alive, Dr. Mustafa Özhan Kalaç said, “Web pages and mobile software play a critical role in disabled individuals’ access to services. The accessibility of these tools is an important agenda item for everyone to benefit from public services equally.”
Stating that the studies carried out in this field in Turkey and carried out by the Ministry of Family and Social Services have now reached their final stages and will be published with a circular by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey in the near future, Dr. Mustafa Özhan Kalaç emphasized that accessibility of web pages and mobile software will be made mandatory in all public institutions. “Our wish is for similar studies to be implemented as soon as possible under your leadership and for public services to be accessible.” said Dr. Mustafa Özhan Kalaç, adding, “These studies are of vital importance for the equal participation of disabled individuals in social life.”
