Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Social Work Department held an event titled “Services for Individuals with Disabilities in the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services and the Private Sector.”
Hulusi Armağan Yıldırım, Head of the Social and Economic Life Participation Department of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services, Directorate General of Services for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, was the guest of the program. The moderation was undertaken by Dr. Abdulhakim Beki, Assistant Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences. Yıldırım, who evaluated individuals with disabilities and the services offered to them, stated: “We ensure the participation of disabled individuals in social life.”
“We ensure the participation of disabled individuals in social life”
Addressing the services provided to disabled individuals at the beginning of his speech, Yıldırım said: “Our services for disabled individuals are highly productive. By organizing courses and activities, we ensure that disabled individuals spend their days productively. They become very happy when they participate in productive courses and activities, thereby achieving participation in social life. We ensure the participation of disabled individuals in social life.”
“Every disabled individual can participate in employment within the scope of available opportunities”
Speaking about the rights of disabled individuals, Yıldırım stated: “The rights granted to our disabled individuals are stipulated in Law No. 5378. They have the right to receive disability pension, education, identity cards, and free access to activities such as theater. These rights vary according to the individual's disability percentage. For instance, to qualify for home care, one must be fully dependent, meaning having severe special needs, and to benefit from employment rights, one must have a disability of 40% or more. Every disabled individual can participate in employment when given the opportunity. If their family is unable or unwilling to provide care, or finds it difficult, we have care centers in our institutions where care is provided without any charge.”
“Social awareness is increasing every day”
Yıldırım stated that the services provided to disabled individuals are successful and adequate: “Families of disabled individuals used to have great concerns, asking ‘Who will care for my disabled patient after I die?’ They no longer need to have this concern. We provide all necessary care in our institutions. We couldn't make these statements 10 years ago, but we have invested in our field, and our capacity and services are quite sufficient. Social awareness has increased every day. We can now see disabled individuals in social life, on public transport, and in the streets. We achieve success with our Social Service methods. I am working in a very valuable profession in many aspects.”