10.6.7 Accessible facilities
Accessible Facilities for People with Disabilities
Boğaziçi University undertakes extensive efforts to provide accessibility measures for individuals with disabilities and to promote full access to university resources. The University offers a range of services and infrastructure arrangements that promote equal participation of students, staff and visitors with disabilities.
Accessibility Services and Supports
Boğaziçi University offers a variety of services to ensure the full participation of individuals with disabilities on campus and in course programs:
- For the visually impaired: Services such as read aloud support, note-taking support, library and laboratory support, provision of materials in alternative formats (e.g., e-texts, braille), campus orientation, and “Independent Movement” training.
- For the Physically Disabled: Services such as physical access support, on-campus vehicle access, arrangement of course locations in inaccessible buildings, and relocation.
- For the Hearing Impaired: Support such as note-taking or video recording support, interpreter support and tele-conferencing systems are available.
- For Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disabilities: Note-taker support and the organization of exam environments are provided.
- For Students with Psychiatric and Psychological Problems: Psychiatrist support and psychological support services are provided within Mediko Social.
Disabled Students Counseling and Coordination Unit
In order to reduce the difficulties faced by individuals with disabilities in university life, Boğaziçi University has a Disabled Students Counseling and Coordination Unit. This unit aims to support the social, academic and personal development of individuals with disabilities and provides various services in this direction.
White Cane and Access Festival
The White Cane and Access Festival is organized every year by the Visually Impaired Technology Center (GETEM) in line with the advocacy principle of Boğaziçi University. The festival hosts a variety of activities to raise awareness of the disabled and draw attention to the importance of accessibility.
SineBU Audio Description
For the first time in Turkey, Boğaziçi University has made it possible to watch movies with audio description in a movie theater with its movie theater infrastructure located on the North Campus. This is a great convenience for disabled moviegoers.
These services and facilities reflect Boğaziçi University's commitment to ensuring that all community members have equal opportunities in education and social life.
GETEM e-Library
Boğaziçi University's Technology and Education Center for the Visually Impaired (GETEM) offers thousands of audio and electronic books, audio-described movies and podcasts to facilitate access to information for people with disabilities. GETEM also develops audiobook applications for hearing impaired individuals across Turkey.
These facilities and services demonstrate Boğaziçi University's commitment to creating an environment where all individuals have equal rights. The measures taken by the university to ensure the full participation of people with disabilities in campus life allow them to play a more active role in education and social life.
2024 Sustainability Report SDG-10 (Related Section)
Accessible Facilities for Persons with Disabilities
Boğaziçi University carries out comprehensive studies to ensure full and equal participation of individuals with disabilities in campus life. The University provides various infrastructure arrangements and services to support barrier-free access to the campus, buildings, classrooms and resources for disabled individuals.
In addition, Boğaziçi University organises programmes and activities that encourage the active participation of disabled students in social and cultural activities. Events such as the White Cane and Access Festival, which aim to raise awareness about disability, are held every year with a wide participation.
Accessible Campus Infrastructure
Boğaziçi University has made various arrangements in order to facilitate the access of disabled individuals in campus areas and to provide an inclusive living space:
Physical Infrastructure Arrangements:
- Infrastructure arrangements are made by Building Works to increase physical access.
- There are ramps, lifts and accessible toilets on pavements and buildings throughout the campus.
Audible Traffic Lights:
- There are audible traffic lights at two important intersections on the North Campus to ensure the safe passage of visually impaired individuals.
Visual Fire Alarms:
- There are visual fire alarms for hearing impaired individuals in accommodation units and other buildings on campus.
Accessible Transport and Maps:
- Maps with accessible buildings are provided for orientation.
- Accessibility is provided by on-campus vehicles.
Accessible Parking Areas:
- There are accessible parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities throughout the campus.
Accessible Resources
Boğaziçi University Technology and Education Laboratory for the Visually Impaired (GETEM) offers a comprehensive resource archive to ensure equal and easy access to information for people with disabilities. The Centre supports access to information with thousands of audio and electronic books, as well as audio- described films and accessible podcasts.
GETEM also plays an important role in the field of education and cultural participation by providing an e-library service for visually impaired individuals across Turkey. The materials in the e-library are organised to cover academic and personal development content that visually impaired people need in their educational processes.
In addition, Boğaziçi University Library has specially created audio study rooms for visually impaired students, and these areas are equipped to facilitate independent study experiences.
Click here to visit GETEM e-library:
SineBU Accessible Cinema Experience
SineBU, which was created in cooperation with GETEM (Technology and Education Laboratory for the Visually Impaired), Boğaziçi University Commission for the Disabled, Boğaziçi University Cinema Club, volunteer academics and students, is Turkey's first cinema hall with audio description infrastructure suitable for the participation of individuals with orthopedic disabilities.
What is Audio Description?: Audio description consists of an external voice filling the parts of the film other than the dialogues, describing the time, place, characters and silent events that take place in the film and describing their appearance and emotions.
The primary goal of SineBU is to ensure that visually and hearing impaired individuals have equal, unassisted and free access to all content in the cinema hall. SineBU carries out pioneering work with associations, foundations and ministries in the field with the aim of equal access to culture for all individuals, and is among the founding members of the Equal Access to Culture platform established for this purpose.
Click here to go to SineBU web page:
https://sinebu.bogazici.edu.tr/
Click here to read the related news:
https://haberler.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/news/kampus/2/sinema-salonunda-engeller-kalkti/395
White Cane and Accessibility Festival
The White Cane and Access Festival, organised by Boğaziçi University Technology and Education Laboratory for the Visually Impaired (GETEM) in cooperation with the Barrier-Free Access Association, aims to raise social awareness and emphasise the importance of accessibility for people with disabilities during the week of World White Cane Day on 15 October every year.
During the festival, activities such as awareness and accessibility themed stands, workshops, seminars, concerts, audio description film screenings and stand-up performances are organised. The festival content, which becomes more diversified every year, enables visitors to understand the difficulties faced by people with disabilities in their daily lives and to experience accessibility solutions.
Accessibility Stands and Activities Organised in Previous Years
Braille and Touch Reading and Writing Stand: Participants had the opportunity to learn reading and writing techniques with Braille alphabet.
Information and Technology Stand: Software and technological devices developed for the visually impaired were introduced.
Accessible Maps Stand: Accessible maps that make it easier for the visually impaired to find directions by touch were exhibited.
Guide Dogs Stand: Information was given about the facilities provided by guide dogs for the disabled and their training processes.
Personal Care Stand: Practical products and methods that facilitate the daily care needs of people with disabilities were introduced.
Home Repair Works Stand: Practical information on small repair work that can be done at home for the visually impaired was provided.
Game and Hobby Stand: Accessible games and hobbies for the visually impaired were introduced.
Kitchen Stand: At the kitchen stand of the Access Without Disabilities Association, the use of kitchen tools such as knives for the disabled and techniques to facilitate daily kitchen work were explained, and the dishes made by the visually impaired were shared with the participants.
Touching History Stand: A museum of three-dimensional printable artefacts on the theme of Ancient Egypt prepared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hıdır Karaduman and his team from Eskişehir Anadolu University was introduced. The museum, which was made accessible by touch, audio description and Braille, attracted great interest.
Hand Gesture Exhibition: The exhibition, prepared by Olcay Aşçı and Funda Altın, included artistic works for the disabled.
Music Stand: Musical instruments were introduced and live music performances were organised throughout the festival, providing a pleasant atmosphere for the participants.
Braille Textile Products Stand: With the joint efforts of Six Dots Association of the Blind Denizli Branch and Dok-San Tekstil, textile products containing information such as washing instructions in Braille alphabet were introduced.
Accessible Sports Activities: Sports activities and equipment suitable for disabled people were promoted.
Health and Medical Devices Stand: Medical devices that can be used in the daily life of disabled people were introduced.
Barrier-Free Parkour: Participants gained awareness on a track where they could experience the physical obstacles that people with disabilities face in daily life.
The White Cane and Access Festival aims not only to raise awareness but also to inspire participants by offering concrete solutions through pioneering work on accessibility. The festival encourages inclusiveness by creating a wider impact area with new content every year.
Click here for related news:
1) https://haberler.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/news/kampus/2/6-beyaz-baston-ve-erisilebilirlik-festivali-n/1803
2) https://haberler.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/news/kampus/2/beyaz-baston-ve-erisilebilirlik-festivali-tum/1431
3) https://haberler.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/news/kampus/2/esit-erisilebilir-engelsiz-bir-yasam-icin/397
These facilities and services reflect Boğaziçi University's commitment to providing full and equal access to campus life for people with disabilities. This approach of the University enables individuals with disabilities to take an active role in education and social life.
Barrier-Free University Award
Boğaziçi University, which carries out meticulous studies to reduce the difficulties faced by students with disabilities in their university life and to provide them with accessible resources and suitable environments, has been awarded as ‘Barrier- Free University’ by the Council of Higher Education.
Boğaziçi University was awarded in three different categories: ‘Access in Education’, ‘Access in Space’ and ‘Access in Socio-cultural Activities’. In this context:
- North Campus in the ‘Access in Socio-cultural Activities’ category,
- Faculty of Education was awarded in the categories of ‘Access in Education’, ‘Access in Space’ and ‘Access in Socio-cultural Activities’.
Click here for related news:
1) https://haberler.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/news/kampus/2/bogazici-universitesine-yokten-engelsiz-unive/1300
2) https://tanitim.bogazici.edu.tr/node/503
Accommodation Policy for Persons with Disabilities
Scholarship Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
Boğaziçi University offers various scholarship opportunities to its students according to their academic achievement and economic status. Whilemerit scholarships are awarded to students based on the criteria of academic success at university entrance or ongoing academic success, need scholarships are provided to students who need economic support. In addition to cash scholarships, need scholarships have a wide range including food, book, dormitory and summer term scholarships.
Exceptions for Students with Disabilities:
Boğaziçi University offers special arrangements to support the educational life of students with disabilities. While a student cannot receive more than one cash scholarship from within and outside the university at the same time, except for the Higher Education KYK Top 100 Scholarship, disabled students are exempted from this rule. Students who document their disability with an official report are entitled to receive more than one cash scholarship.
Dormitory Scholarship for Disabled Students:
Students with disabilities have the opportunity to benefit from the dormitory scholarship provided by the university in case of economic need. The dormitory scholarship offers free accommodation in university dormitories within the quota. This scholarship is valid for students who qualify for a dormitory and continue to meet the scholarship criteria, as long as they do not interrupt their education. The dormitory scholarship is provided for 9 months (September to May) during each academic year.
These arrangements in dormitory and scholarship opportunities have been developed to alleviate the financial difficulties of disabled students and to support their education.
For detailed information about scholarships, please click here:
https://bursofisi.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/genel-bilgi
Accommodation Policy for Disabled Employees
Boğaziçi University offers affordable housing facilities to meet the housing needs of both academic and administrative staff and to raise their living standards.
Housing Allocations:
Housing allocation is made according to a scoring system determined by the Housing Allocation Commission. In the scoring process, criteria such as length of service, family members who are legally obliged to take care of and will live together, and disability status are taken into consideration.
In accordance withthe ‘Regulation on Public Housing’ (OG: 23/09/1984-18524) and the ‘Boğaziçi University Housing Allocation Directive’ based on this regulation, (+ 40) points are added for disabled personnel who certify that they are forty percent or more disabled with a report from an authorised medical board and for each disabled family member (including spouse and child) who is legally obliged to take care of and will live together in the residence.
Boğaziçi University continuously updates and develops its policies in order to improve the living standards of disabled individuals and to support their full participation in working life.
Click for the relevant legislation:
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