DIVERSASIA - Best practices

Middle East Technical University is the first university in Turkey to start accessibility studies for disabled students in higher education. Studies for disabled students at METU started in 1998 with the establishment of the "Barrier-Free METU Project", which aims to increase accessibility on campus. The Barrier-Free METU Project basically aimed to provide access to the campus buildings and to facilitate the circulation on the basis of buildings. With this project, it is aimed to make the pedestrian paths between the faculty buildings, dormitories, sports fields and cafes on the campus suitable for the use of disabled students. Prior to the legal obligation imposed on universities, the "Accessible METU Coordinatorship" was established in 2004, which aims to examine the problems faced by students with disabilities within the university and to create appropriate systems for these problems. On 28.06.2011, with the decision of the Middle East Technical University Senate numbered 2011/5-2, the Accessible METU Coordinatorship was restructured and replaced by the " Disability Support Office". The "Disability Support Office" is tasked with working towards ensuring equal access to facilities and services at the university and creating an environment that supports their development for students who study at the university and have special needs due to any disability. The working principles and procedures of the Accessible METU Unit are determined in accordance with the 11th and 12th articles of the "Higher Education Institutions Disabled Coordination Coordination Regulation", in order to regulate the physical conditions of the campus for the needs of students with disabilities and to increase academic accessibility for students with disabilities.