The seminar titled "The Concept of Barrier-Free University: Past, Present, and Future," organized by the COMU Unit for Students with Disabilities for staff and students, took place at the Safiye Huseyin Elbi Conference Hall in the COMU School of Health. The keynote speaker was Assist. Prof. Dr. Onur Altuntaş from the Department of Occupational Therapy at Hacettepe University.

The event was attended by COMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Görün, President of the Turkish Association of the Physically Disabled Çanakkale Branch Ümit Burunlular, and the Coordinator of the COMU Unit for Students with Disabilities, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nurullah Bolat, alongside academic staff and students. Following a moment of silence and the National Anthem, the seminar featured a performance by the Çanakkale Peace Choir, conducted by Lect. Mete Gökçe.

Highlights from the Speeches

"1 in 8 People Worldwide Has a Disability, Yet We Don't See This Proportion in Social Life" Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nurullah Bolat delivered the opening speech, which was interpreted live into International Sign Language by Burak Kavak. Bolat emphasized that "disability" is now evolving into the concept of "being hindered," stating:

• In contemporary nations, disability refers more to the obstacles society places in front of individuals rather than their functional impairments.

• Efforts to remove these barriers should be seen as a matter of equal opportunity and justice, not as a favor.

• The goal of the COMU Unit for Students with Disabilities is to foster a "barrier-free university culture" and eliminate physical and social obstacles within the campus.

"Our Duty is to Remove Barriers in Our University" Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Görün highlighted that universities are institutions responsible for producing values, and the concept of a barrier-free university is central to these values. He noted that everyone is a potential individual with a disability and thanked Dr. Onur Altuntaş for sharing the pioneering experiences of Hacettepe University.

Insights from the Seminar

Following a briefing on Erasmus+ Student Mobility by Ali Emrah Tokatlıoğlu, Dr. Onur Altuntaş shared his expertise:

• Establishment: Disability student units were mandated for all 175 universities in Türkiye following a 2006 YÖK (Council of Higher Education) directive.

• Key Concepts: He discussed "unhindered access," "barrier-free education," technological infrastructure, and architectural arrangements.

• Communication: He provided guidance on the correct methods of communicating with individuals with disabilities to ensure everyone receives an equal education under equal conditions.