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THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE 2018 ANNUAL REPORT

h) Disability Rights

In 2018, the applications filed to our Institution by persons with disabilities and their relatives
who took care of them were regarding complaints about determining the percentage in the
medical board reports of disability.

As the percentage rate in the disability reports is a prerequisite to utilize tax reductions in
education services, social benefits and many other services for the persons with disabilities, the
applications in this field are increasing day by day.

The applications filed regarding the rights of the people with disabilities are given priority by
our Institution. Our Institution has supportive practices in this field and contributes to the
protection and promotion of the disability rights with its activities carried out in cooperation
with other public institutions, civil society organizations as well as international organizations.

In this regard, our Institution took part in the process of the 11 Development Plan (2019-
th
2023) prepared by the Ministry of Development and attended the meeting on “Improvement
of Services for People with Disabilities” and presented the problems experienced by people
with disabilities and suggested solutions to these problems. In addition, our Institution actively
participated in many other meetings, workshops and conferences organized by relevant civil
society organizations to contribute to the promotion of the disability rights.

Case summaries

The applicant stated that the stairs in the 2 Mevsim Street in Osmangazi, Bursa were
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causing difficulties for the elderly, persons carrying baby strollers and especially for the people
with disabilities in their daily life and therefore requested renewal of them by constructing a
wheelchair ramp.

Our Institution issued “Referral Decision” and the administration responded that infrastructure
works for natural gas pipelines were on the way and after they were completed, the requests of
the citizen would be taken into account.

In another application, the applicant stated that people with disabilities in Düzce province
were not able to travel with their Disability Identification Cards given by the Ministry of
Family, Labor and Social Policies, that although there was a relevant legal arrangement, they
were required to receive a separate card from the Municipality and therefore requested to
be able to use it in public transportation. Our Institution issued a referral decision so that
the matter would be examined by the Municipality of that province. Later, the Municipality
informed us that they found out that the mentioned problem was not experienced in the
municipal public buses, but in the private public buses and therefore they warned all the
drivers of the public buses not to let any such problems happen again.

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