Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, stated that the aim of the Ministry was to ensure the participation of persons with visual impairments in society and to support them to reveal their potential.

In her speech at the program organized at Altındağ Municipality's Şair Baki Hall on the occasion of the White Cane Week for the Persons with Visual Impairments, Minister Göktaş wished that Regaib Kandil, which would be celebrated the same night, would be auspicious for Türkiye and the Islamic world.

Stating that the white cane was an important symbol for persons with visual impairments and a tool making their lives easier, Göktaş stated that the white cane was a reflection of the call of "we do exist, notice us" to the whole world.

Göktaş, who explained that it was important to always stand by the persons with disabilities with empathy and to support them in order to contribute to their lives and increase social awareness, spoke as follows:

"With the declaration of 2020 as the Year of Accessibility under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the work in awareness has accelerated even more. With accessibility, it is aimed to make it easier and more active for persons with disabilities to participate in all areas required by social life. Within this framework, it is important that buildings, information and communication technologies, and means of transportation are accessible and safe for persons with disabilities."

Göktaş stated that the Ministry continued their efforts to produce solutions to facilitate the lives of persons with visual impairments and produced social policies to meet their needs in education, employment, healthcare and other important areas, and said," The aim is to ensure the participation of persons with visual impairments in society and to support them in revealing their potential."

"Making mosques accessible is among our priorities"

Göktaş pointed out that persons with visual impairments should be able to read Braille and walk freely with their white cane in order to accomplish their daily work within their own means.

Stating that the Ministry prepared persons with visual impairments from all over Türkiye for life with the Rehabilitation Centers for Persons with Visual Impairments in İstanbul and Ankara, Göktaş reminded that the Ministry provided persons with visual impairments with home care allowance payments as well as the right to employment in the public sector.

Göktaş emphasized that with the protocol signed with the Guide Dogs Association, it was aimed to help persons with visual impairments to move independently and safely in society, and continued her remarks as follows:

"Within the scope of this protocol, guide dogs have started to be trained at Istanbul Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Visual Impairments. Guide dogs play an important role in improving the quality of life of persons with visual impairments in many areas such as independence, security and emotional support. On the other hand, the Ministrty has put the children's magazine Aile Çocuk (Family Child) on the web for children with disabilities, both in Turkish sign language and with audio description. The Ministry is also working for the preparation of religious services requested by persons with visual impairments in accessible environments and formats. Being able to read the Holy Qur'an independently in Braille is another important issue that is emphasized. Within this framework, it is one of the priorities that mosques, like all public buildings, are accessible to persons with visual impairments."

Minister Göktaş stated that the Week of Persons with Visual Impairments was a call for awareness and noted that persons with visual impairments could be supported by removing barriers and providing accessibility.

After the speeches, Mayor of Altındağ Asım Balcı presented flowers and a painting to Minister Göktaş. Then a souvenir photo was taken in memory of the day.