As local elections are coming up in Turkey (29 March), Ziya Özden, general secretary of the Istanbul branch of the “Six Dots” Association for the Blind, has criticised municipalities for neglecting the needs of the visually impaired, and of the disabled in general:

“For years we have been visiting local authorities, especially in Istanbul, but also in other cities, and have asked for solutions to our problems. It is really the responsibility of the municipalities to come to us, but we have had to go up to them and ask them to create a better quality of life for the blind and other disabled people. But up to today, we have not made any progress.”

No standardisation

Özden criticised the fact that local authorities used legal loopholes to avoid fulfilling their responsibilities:

“Our biggest complaint is that the transportation system, roads, pavements, stairs in public buildings, doors, lifts and toilets have not been standardised to make them usable by the disabled.”

Demands for the future

The association is calling for a disabled representative in all municipal councils and has listed its demands for local authorities thus:

• Pavements in all cities must be standardised so that they can be used by the disabled. Cars must be prevented from parking on them.
• The coloured security line at the subway stations should have a slightly raised surface, so that people can notice it with their feet. Future subway stations should be constructed with wheelchair users in mind.
• Regional labour markets should be analysed, and courses training disabled people to fill jobs in those areas should be created.
• Disabled people should be offered jobs in municipal car parks, snack stands and shops as a priority. Furthermore, they should be offered hygienic enclosed spaces in central areas to sell products.

A major issue for the disabled is mobility. Because, so Özden, many cannot find someone to help them get around, they are unable to attend social and cultural events, never mind following paperwork and going to institutions, or undergoing medical treatment and therapies. Thus, there is a great need for specially trained municipal personnel and specially-equipped vehicles to transport the disabled.

Municipalities should consult relevant associations, and disabled candidates should be given spaces on party lists that would enable their election into municipal councils. (BÇ/AG)