According to the World Disability Report, 15% of the global population consists of people with disabilities. When this percentage is translated to the total population, it amounts to roughly 1 billion individuals—a significant number that cannot be ignored.

Research conducted by the Administration for Persons with Disabilities indicates that this rate is 12.29% in Turkey. When applied to our population, this results in nearly 10 million people. So, why don’t we see them more often in social life?

Because the arrangements made for individuals with disabilities are insufficient; they struggle to move around freely, handle their tasks, and often find themselves confined to their homes.

What Can Be Done for People with Disabilities?

“What can I do alone?” If we act with this mindset, we won’t achieve anything. We are a society, and we need to work in coordination. As individuals, we form this society and have responsibilities towards it. This means that each person is responsible for others.

Municipalities Are Becoming More Aware

Especially metropolitan municipalities are now making arrangements for citizens with disabilities. Public transportation, roads, and public spaces are being redesigned to facilitate their movement. But is this enough? Of course not; we need to spread this awareness throughout the entire country.

In park arrangements, we should also consider our children with disabilities. There are now playground equipment designed with the presence of disabled children in mind, but such facilities are not yet widespread in our country.

What Can We Do Personally?

If you have individuals with disabilities in your family or community, you can make various arrangements for them. As community members, you can come together to shape sidewalks and stairs to be accessible for everyone. If it hasn’t been done yet, ramps for wheelchairs can be added to sidewalks. Local shopkeepers can design their stores with consideration for disabled customers, and cafes and bars can create sections to ensure their comfort.

Remember that if you encounter individuals with disabilities who are financially disadvantaged, they often have to fight much harder than the rest of us. Therefore, do your best to assist them. As humanity, we must join hands for a world without barriers; after all, a happy life is a right for all of us.