“We Can Succeed Only Together” Panel Held

The panel titled “We Can Succeed Only Together,” organized in cooperation with our University’s Disabled Student Unit Coordination, İzge Disability Association, and İzge Student Society, was held within the scope of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December. The event, hosted at the Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar Conference Hall, attracted great interest from our students, academic staff, families, and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

The panel began with the opening remarks of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Büşra Süngü, Coordinator of our University’s Disabled Student Unit and a faculty member at the Faculty of Sport Sciences. In her speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Süngü emphasized the University’s commitment to creating an accessible and inclusive campus for all students, noting that this meaningful day not only raises awareness but also serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility toward equality, accessibility, and inclusivity.

The panel was moderated by Nail Yurdusev, President of the İzge Disability Association. Speakers included:
* Fatma Tabanlı, President of OBİDEV,
* Parin Yakupyan, President of the Association for Special Children Education and Solidarity and Treasurer of the Autism Confederation,
* Cansu Korkmaz, Board Member of Down Türkiye and Head of the Legal Unit of the Autism Confederation.

Additionally, Ayşenur Otlu, one of our University students, delivered a short speech and later performed a song accompanied by guitar, creating an emotional moment in the hall.

Addressing a wide range of topics such as family, civil society, volunteerism, rights-based advocacy, public awareness, and legal mechanisms, the panel offered participants a multidimensional perspective on disability studies.

At the end of the program, certificates of appreciation were presented to the speakers and contributors by Sibel Boz, spouse of our Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Boz; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Büşra Süngü; and our University’s Disabled Student Unit Assistant Coordinator, Lecturer Duygu Bilgin Kayalık. The panel, held as part of the 3 December International Day of Persons with Disabilities, concluded with a commemorative group photo.