Within the scope of the Disability Week in Turkey, many activities and organizations for disabled citizens continue to be carried out. Making important statements to our newspaper in order to draw attention to the dozens of problems of the disabled and their families waiting to be solved, Hasan Çatalbaş, the Istanbul Branch President of the Anatolian Disabled Unity Association, said, “The disabled have many problems waiting to be solved. However, the issue I would like to emphasize is the silent cry of the disabled and their relatives. Relatives of people with disabilities need to be socially protected and insured.”
Within the scope of the Disability Week, many activities and organizations are carried out for disabled citizens all over Turkey. However, disabled people and their families have dozens of problems waiting to be solved. In this context, Hasan Çatalbaş, the Istanbul Branch President of the Anatolian Association for the Uniting of the Disabled, made special statements to the Milli Gazete and drew attention to the problems experienced by the disabled and their families. Drawing attention to the activities of the association, Hasan Çatalbaş underlined that especially the relatives of the disabled who take care of the disabled should be provided with social security.
“WE HAVE IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS”
Anatolian Disabled Unity Association Istanbul Branch President Hasan Çatalbaş made a special statement to the Milli Gazete, stating that they wanted to draw attention to disabled athletes during this year's Disabled Week, and added, "After 2022, we will make a greater effort to direct disabled people to sports. As the Anatolian Association for the Unification of the Disabled, we also have important activities for people with disabilities in sports such as chess, athletics and goalball. We provide facilities such as trainers, gyms and equipment for disabled athletes. Apart from sports activities, as an association, we have been operating in the fields of education, cultural education and spiritual education since 2013. We have work in many areas such as braille writing, embossed Qur’an education, computer course, sign language course and public awareness."
“THE DISABLED AND THE RELATIVES OF THE DISABLED HAVE DIFFICULTY TO MAKE A LIFE”
Stating that the biggest problem of the disabled in Turkey is the lack of communication, Hasan Çatalbaş said, “Unfortunately, no one can understand the problems of the disabled and the expectations of the disabled families. We have expectations from the authorities and the executive authority. For example, we expect disabled relatives who take care of the disabled to be covered by social security. Because a person with a disability who spares his life for a disabled person is devastated after losing him, and he also has financial difficulties because he has no financial security. A solution is urgently needed to fix this problem. In addition, the monthly money entering the house is taken as a basis for the pensions given to the disabled and their relatives. Today, there is an individual life and therefore households do not want to share the money they earn. Here, the disabled and their relatives have difficulties in making a living. The authorities need to come up with a new solution that too."
“SILENT SCREAM OF THE RELATIVES OF THE DISABLED”
Hasan Çatalbaş also touched upon the report problem of the disabled and added, “It is very difficult to get a fully equipped health report now. When we ask why we don't get a fully equipped health report in Istanbul, they say, 'Go to Ankara'. The authorities in Ankara do not accept that they make any restrictions at such a point. They blame each other and it happens to people with disabilities. Disabled people suffer the loss of many rights. Apart from this, disabled people have many more problems waiting to be solved. However, the issue that I would like to emphasize again is the silent scream of the disabled relatives. Relatives of people with disabilities need to be socially protected and insured.”