ICAT 2007: Travel & Disability in Turkey

DESF was founded in 1994 by families of DESF was founded in 1994 by families of handicapped individualshandicapped individuals and has adoptedand has adopted the the principle of providing a bright and safe future principle of providing a bright and safe future

for the disabled through education and for the disabled through education and solidarity.solidarity.

DESF has successfully completed projects such as,

A handicapped census in a municipality (over 1 million households were visited)Computer courses designed to provide disabled individuals with a job.Training Care Workers for the Handicapped and ElderlyHelping handicapped in Workplace Integration Sexual Reproductive Health for the Challenged

Integrating handicapped people into everyday life and into its every aspect a good indicator of a modern society. Like everyone else in the world, handicapped people desire to see different places, to go on a holiday, visit museums, attend social events.

Tourism is one of the major sectors in Turkey,In 2006 Tourism income was 16 bn. 850 mil. US. Dollars. In 2007 the sector is expected to turn in a 23 bn. US. Dollar revenue.

However, disabled tourism’s share within the sector isn’t as high as we wish it would be. This is not because disabled peoples disinterest in taking a holiday in Turkey, it’s because a majority of the hotels aren’t properly equipped to deal with special guests, there aren’t any accomodating ramps, the rooms are too small, the pool’s don’t have lifts etc.

In a law, dated 18/06/2005, it is stated in the 18/C clause that; The hotels and holiday villages which have over 80 bed capacity, have to reorganize their 1% of their rooms according to the need of the handicapped people, with facilities such as accessible food courts, ramps, lavatories etc.

Also according to the Tourism Incentive Law dated 28/12/2006, the government will provide restructuring services to the ports that accomodates cruise ships, these changes will also take part in marinas around the Turkish coastline.

Within the last few years, with the implementation of the new disabled law, Turkey is rapidly increasing its potential to host more handicapped individuals.Many projects have been started with goodwill and enthusiasm, however only a limited number of them have actually been completed up to now.

Projects such as,

World Handicapped Children Holiday Resort, (In Izmir)Handicapped Holiday Resort – (which is planning to host the Paralympics, and Special Olympics)

are still being constructed, while hotels, servicing disabled individuals are increasing by the number every passing day.

Currently, although there are many hotels which are accessible, we came across 2 special hotels, one was constructed from the ground up to accomodate disabled people, the other was restructured to become the first and only 100% accessible hotel in Turkey and Europe, with all its rooms rebuilt to suit every degree of disability.

Lifts for pools allow easier access, this particular lift, invented by a Turk, uses only water force to function.

Having rails near pool enterance stairs, also helps, rounding the corners of steps allow injury free access to the pools.

Dedicated buses alow transportation of disabled individuals to various places in the city and to/from the airport.

Rooms should be spacious enough to accommodate a wheelchair

The bathrooms containing handrails and support systems are a plus.

Low angle ramps in the hotel lobby makes getting around much easier.

Various ramp styles.

Winding low angle ramps provide much better accesibility

Several other ramp styles

Bathrooms should be

large enough for wheelchair

movement, the toiles with supports and

sinks low enough to be accessible for

all.

Showers and room ramps should also provide adequate accessibility.