“Notice the Difference, Let's Overcome Obstacles Together” Event Attracts Great Interest, Increases Awareness
“Notice the Difference, Let's Overcome Obstacles Together” Event Attracts Great Interest, Increases Awareness
Organized by the Faculty of Health Sciences in collaboration with the Süleyman Demirel University Disabled Students Unit Coordination, the Physiotherapy and Barrier-Free Life Community, and the SDÜ LÖSEV Benefit Community, the “Notice the Difference, Let's Overcome Obstacles Together” event was held with high participation, significantly contributing to increased social awareness. The first part of the event took place online via Google Meet on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 8:00 PM and was followed with great interest by a large audience. The program included presentations by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuba İnce Parpucu on “Disability Awareness in Society”, Dr. Hatice Baygut on “Nutrition and Health Interaction in Individuals with Disabilities”, and Prof. Dr. Hulusi Alp on “Sports for Individuals with Disabilities”. The presentations addressed the impact of different types of disabilities on individuals' quality of life from an interdisciplinary perspective. Speakers provided participants with significant academic and societal gains by offering solutions to reduce the physical, social, and environmental barriers that disabled individuals face in daily life. Following the event, face-to-face activities were held at the Faculty of Sports Sciences, SDÜ East Campus, between 15:00 and 18:00 on December 9-10, 2025. These included presentations aimed at increasing disability awareness in society, as well as award-winning obstacle course applications for visual, hearing, and orthopedic disabilities. Students had the opportunity to develop their empathy skills by experiencing the challenges disabled individuals might face in daily life at the created stations. Thanks to the practical obstacle courses, participants were able to evaluate the concept of disability not only at a theoretical level but also through real-life experiences. This process significantly increased the students' awareness levels. At the end of the event, participants' opinions, suggestions, and feedback were collected through an evaluation survey administered via QR code. The data obtained revealed the effectiveness of the event and contributed to the development of similar activities to be organized in the future. As a result of this comprehensive program, it was observed that the participants' knowledge level regarding the concept of disability increased, their empathy skills were strengthened, their inclusive perspective was supported, and their awareness of social responsibility was reinforced. The event made a strong contribution to the university's social responsibility and inclusive education mission, creating valuable awareness both academically and socially.
