‘I was appointed as a teacher with disabilities, now they say I cannot work’

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Ş.Ç. is a 29-year-old teacher with disabilities living in Turkey's Aegean province of Uşak. She has been appointed as a disabled teacher to the Kocaeli Directorate of National Education.

However, she cannot start working as the Uşak Provincial Directorate of Health has given her a report of "She cannot be a teacher."

When Ş.Ç. heard that disabled teachers would be appointed to work in public education institutions in April, she made an application.

She met the application criteria and conditions and was appointed in the end. Afterwards, she called the Kocaeli Directorate of National Education and asked about the necessary documents.

As she was asked to have a medical report, Ş.Ç. applied to the Uşak Provincial Directorate of Health to get the necessary report. The committee report given for Ş.Ç. said, "She cannot be a teacher."

Ş.Ç. objected to this report. It was then decided that Ş.Ç. should get a report from an academically higher hospital.

'I got chicken pox while working as a teacher'

Referred to the İzmir Katip Çelebi Hospital for the report, Ş.Ç. has said briefly the following to bianet:

"I was not born with disabilities, it happened later. While I was working as a substitute teacher 7 years ago, I contracted chicken pox. The cerebellum was damaged and I now have cerebral ataxia (balance disorder).

"I am a BA graduate, I studied pre-school teaching. I applied as a disabled teacher. I met the conditions. Even though I have been appointed, the medical institution has said, 'She cannot be a teacher.'

'The committee wants the definition of teachership'

"We objected to this decision and submitted a petition to the Uşak Provincial Directorate of Health, requesting a new examination at an academically higher hospital. They referred us to the İzmir Katip Çelebi Hospital. ,

"It was impossible to get an appointment from this hospital, we have lost so much time in this process due to the pandemic. We have used all our material and immaterial means to the end and entered the committee.

"No decision has been given yet, but they apparently wanted the definition of teachership from the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of National Education. But I do not have much time left. It is due August 30.

'They gave time till August 30'

"They told me that if we do not submit the documents to the Kocaeli Directorate of Education till August 30, my appointment will be cancelled. We requested additional time, but they did not give it. The degree of my disability was written in my application. They appointed me by knowing this.

"I was appointed as a disabled teacher, but it is said that 'she cannot be a teacher' because of my disability. What kind of a contradiction is that? I am married and expecting a baby, I run the household on my own, but I am told that I cannot do my job.

"I and people like me are aggrieved. It is our lives that are at stake here. Who will answer for this? We, the people with disabilities, are deprived of our right to work. Just as we have our right to life, we also have the right to be in society and work. I am calling on the authorities here: I want this process to end favorably as soon as possible." (RT/SD)