General Manager of Disability and Elderly Services, Public Consultation Meeting-1 was held under the chairmanship of Md. Orhan KOÇ. General Manager of Disabled and Elderly Services Exp. Md. Orhan KOÇ consulted the measures taken and services provided for the disabled with the participation of all the public in the COVID-19 process.

The online meeting was attended by managers and experts and representatives of the Ministry's unit of the focus on the rights of the disabled of public institutions.

In this meeting, both what was done during the COVID-19 period, the process of transmission, what was done within the scope of normalization and the next period of mutual evaluations were made. The meeting, which was held in the focus of the Convention on the Rights of the People of Persons (EHIS) and attended by 57 people, was held online.

Access to information has become even more important during this period, guides created in accessible formats were prepared for individuals with different obstacle situations.

COVID-19 process as a country has achieved significant achievements, stating that the speech began by The General Manager of Disability and Elderly Services Exp.Md. Orhan KOÇ said it is essential that priority measures are taken because the COVID-19 outbreak affects everyone, as well as creating additional risks and consequences for individuals with disabilities. Based on this priority, we talk about the measures taken by our Ministry for individuals with disabilities and the work carried out. Md. KOÇ stressed that these studies are done in accordance with the needs of the disabled.

Noting that access to information has become more important during this period, KOÇ said that guides created in accessible formats are prepared for individuals with different obstacle situations. In addition,Exp. Md. KOÇ mentioned the measures taken in disabled and elderly nursing homes. Thanks to these measures, the COVID-19 transmission rate in nursing homes in our country remains at lower levels than in the world and especially in hospices in Europe.

Ph.d. Deniz CAGLAYAN GÜMÜŞ, head of the Accessibility Department of the General Directorate of Disability and Elderly Services, who spoke after Exp. Md. KOÇ, said that accessibility works are carried out more comprehensively and holisticly after 2020 was declared as the Year of Accessibility by our President.

Covid-19 process, as the General Directorate of public institutions and organizations provided by the services and information made to be accessible forms for individuals with disabilities, Ph.d. ÇAĞLAYAN GÜMÜŞ, said that they are ready to cooperate with public institutions and organizations related to these arrangements. 

The meeting continued with the notification of representatives of public institutions and organizations about the measures they have taken to benefit the disabled from the policies and services within the scope of their duties and the measures that can be taken in the transition to the normalization process. Ministry of Justice, General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety, İŞKUR, General Directorate of Social Benefits, General Directorate of Children's Services, SGK, Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate, ÖSYM, YÖK, Gendarmerie General Command, Migration Administration Directorate and Religious Affairs Directorate within the framework of their own task areas, information about the measures taken for the disabled in the COVID-19 process was shared. In addition, information about the policies and services of its institutions for disabled people were conveyed by representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Revenue Administration, TOKI, YSK, BTK, TUİk, BDDK, TİHEK and RTÜK representatives.

After the evaluations of the participants, Exp.Md. Orhan KOÇ gave his closing speech. Exp. Md. KOÇ noted that the meeting is productive for all parties and closed the meeting in the coming period by stating that public consultation meetings will continue to be held to share information and evaluations in the focus of EHİS, thus planning to meet with public institutions and institutions periodically.