Services and Activities Offered

1. Promotion Period

During our University's promotion week, meetings are held with prospective students with disabilities who are considering studying at our University and their families, and information is provided about the academic and physical accessibility of our institution.

2. Before Registration

Upon request, students with disabilities who reach the preference stage following the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS) are given information about the departments they are considering at our University. Students with disabilities are informed about what kinds of academic and physical arrangements will be made according to their disability.

3. Registration Process

As part of the organization during our University's registration week, the unit is introduced to all students, with or without disabilities, and their families at every desk where departments are promoted. Our unit's brochure contains all details about how the unit operates. After registration, newly enrolled students with disabilities are given an appointment for a one-on-one meeting at the unit. Once all documents proving the disability are obtained from the student, the student is registered with the unit and their physical and academic needs are identified.

4. Academic Arrangements

As part of its general mission, Bahçeşehir University has embraced providing students with disabilities a supportive and well-resourced environment in order to remove obstacles to their academic development and to help them develop their independence as individuals. In line with this mission, the Disabled Students Unit has made it its mission to make every effort to create a safe and easily accessible academic environment for all students with disabilities and to take the necessary steps to remove the physical and behavioral barriers that limit active participation at Bahçeşehir University. The unit makes the necessary arrangements and offers solutions to meet the needs of students with disabilities enrolled at our University during their studies and to identify and remove the barriers they may encounter and the measures to be taken against them.

a) Students with Hearing Impairments

By decision of the executive board, students with hearing impairments may be exempted from the listening sections of exams. A seating arrangement is created so that students can hear the instructor and are not affected by other sounds, and important notes and personal messages are conveyed in writing. For students who can lip-read, the instructor delivers lectures facing the student.

b) Students with Physical Disabilities

For midterm and final exams, suitable classrooms are selected where the student can move comfortably in a wheelchair; if no suitable classroom is available, the exam is administered at the Disabled Students Unit by a specialist staff member. A comfortable seating arrangement is provided for the student and additional exam time is granted.

c) Students with Writing Difficulties

Exams can be conducted on a computer instead of with paper and pencil, and additional time is provided. Students with spasticity who have difficulty writing are allowed to use a laptop. In addition, course notes are prepared in written form and provided to students when needed.

d) Students with Speech Difficulties

For students who experience speech difficulties or stuttering, special arrangements and additional time are provided, especially for oral exams and presentation assignments. Preparing visual and written presentations together with the students is the preferred method.

e) Students with Learning Difficulties

Students with learning difficulties (dyslexia) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can take their exams in a separate room with additional time; since they have difficulty reading and writing, a reader and a scribe are provided for their exams. In addition, instructors are informed about cases in which spelling and writing rules should be disregarded, and oral examinations are recommended.

f) Students with Visual Impairments

Students with visual impairments are generally given additional time in their exams, and exam materials are printed in enlarged format. An assistant or instructor is assigned to help the students, and exams are arranged with additional time.

5. Students with Social Anxiety Disorder

Students with Social Anxiety Disorder at our University often apply to the Disabled Students Unit to have their exams arranged with additional time, since the medication they use may cause attention difficulties and they may have attacks during in-class exams. Such students take their exams at the Disabled Students Unit, where they feel safer and free from stress.

6. Health Services

The health services provided to every student also apply to students with disabilities, and there is a Disabled Students Unit representative responsible for this matter.

7. Dining Services

There is no special dining service at our University; however, scholarship opportunities are provided to students in financial need.

8. Transportation Services

Students with disabilities are offered the same transportation facilities provided to other students.

9. Psychological Counseling Support

Specialist psychologists of the Dean of Students' Office provide support services to students when needed.