DISABILITY SUPPORT CENTER WORKING PRINCIPLES

SECTION ONE
Purpose, Scope and Basis

Purpose 
Article 1-(1) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12)  The purpose of these Principles is to regulate the working procedures and principles of the Disability Support Center, established under the Rectorate, to take necessary measures and conduct studies ensuring that students with disabilities studying at Izmir University of Economics can maintain their academic studies under equal conditions with other students.

Scope
Article 2-(1) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12) (Change: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13) These Principles cover the activities of the Izmir University of Economics Disability Support Center.

Basis
Article 3-(1) (Changed SD 07.01.2026-568-B/1) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12)   These Principles have been prepared in accordance with Articles 11 and 12 of the Regulation on Counseling and Coordination of Persons with Disabilities in Higher Education Institutions and the Regulation on Health Conditions for Exam Applications and Disability Quotas for Individuals with Disabilities published in the Official Gazette dated 08.03.2022 and numbered 31772. 
 
Definitions
Article 4- (1) (Changed: SD-22.11.2016 – A/5) (Add: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13) In these principles, a "student with disabilities" refers to a higher education student who, due to the loss of physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and social abilities to various degrees from birth or later for any reason, experiences difficulties in adapting to social life and meeting daily needs, and requires protection, care, rehabilitation, counseling, and support services.
 
SECTION TWO
Structure, Working Principles, and Duties of the Disability Support Center

Structure of the Disability Support Center
Article 5-(1) (Changed SD 07.01.2026-568-B/1) (Changed with article no: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13)  The Disability Support Center consists of the Vice Rector responsible for education, the Commission for Students with Disabilities, the Disability Support Center Supervisor, and, if necessary, personnel assigned by the Rector. The hardware and financial needs of the Center are met by the University.

(2) (Changed: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13) The Vice Rector responsible for the Center coordinates and supervises the work carried out in the Disability Support Center.

(3) (Changed SD 07.01.2026-568-B/1) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12) (Changed: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13) The Commission for Students with Disabilities is the commission composed of Director of Health, Culture, and Sports, Disability Support Center Supervisor, Director of Student Affairs, and faculty members and/or administrative staff assigned by the University Senate, under the presidency of the Vice-Rector in charge. The term of office for the members of the commission is three years. The members can be reassigned once their terms of office are completed. Commission for Students with Disabilities convenes at least once in each semester, and as much as, when necessary. Commission for Students with Disabilities has the authority and responsibility to evaluate the condition of the students, to determine the measures to be taken, and to apply these measures in the scope specified with these Principles.

(4) (Changed SD 07.01.2026-568-B/1)  The Disability Support Center Coordinator is a full-time Izmir University of Economis academic staff member appointed by the Rector to plan and carry out the Center’s tasks. The Disability Support Center Coordinator is responsible for performing the duties specified in these Principles.

(5) (Added SD 07.01.2026-568-B/1) The Disability Support Center Department/Program Representative is a full-time academic staff member who teach in the relevant department/program and selected by the relevant academic unit Dean/Director to ensure academic coordination between the Center and the department. The current list of department/program representatives is published on the Disability Support Center website. 

(6) (Added SD 07.01.2026-568-B/1) The Disability Support Center Supervisor is the administrative staff member responsible for the Center's secretarial work. 

Disability Support Center Working Principles
Article 6 -  (Changed: SD-22.11.2016 – A/5) (Article no Changed: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13) (1) Students with disabilities are identified as below and the information is shared with the Commission for Students with Disabilities.
a) The student declares his/her disability during final registration to the University,

b) The student refers to Disability Support Center directly or upon seeing the expression “If you need support for a specific course due to your disability, please refer to Disability Support Center” in the instruction plans in the University ECTS Catalogue.
 
2) The evaluation of the needs of a student with disability is carried out as below;
a) (Changed: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13) Commission for Students with Disabilities meets at the beginning of each semester to discuss the needs of the students who declare their disability and determines the possibilities and supportive educational applications that may be provided.

 b) (Changed SD 07.01.2026-568-B/1) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12)  The Disability Support Center submits the “Disability Support Center Application Form” to the instructors of the courses the student with a disability is enrolled in for the relevant semester via the Izmir University of Economics Disability Support System. Students' disability information is available to the instructors of the courses they are taking in the relevant semester in the Izmir University of Economics Disability Support System.

c) (Changed SD-07.01.2026-568-B/1) The instructor is obligated to comply with the supportive explanations regarding course and exam practices specified in the items listed in the “Disability Support Center Application Form.”
 
ç) (Changed SD-07.01.2026-568-B/1) Information regarding course and exam accommodations for students with disabilities who apply to the Disability Support Center is shared only with the instructors teaching the courses during the relevant semester, with the student's consent. This information is shared with the Student Affairs Directorate, relevant academic units, and the Exam Coordination Council to ensure that necessary accommodations for exams and classroom arrangements are made.
 
The Duties of the Disability Support Center
Article 7-(1) (Article no changed: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13)  The duties of Izmir University of Economics Disability Support Center are as follows:
a) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12) Meeting the needs of the students with disabilities enrolled in the programs of Izmir University of Economics that might occur during their education, determining the obstacles they might encounter and the measures to be taken, offering solutions and making necessary arrangements to remove these obstacles in coordination with the other units within the University.

b) Ensuring that university students with disabilities can continue their education and training programs in a manner that does not hinder their academic, physical, psychological, and social lives; making decisions regarding both the organization of the educational environment attended by students with disabilities and the provision of equipment for persons with disabilities, the preparation of special teaching materials, and the preparation of educational, research, and accommodation environments suitable for persons with disabilities.
 
c) Preparing documents instructors that define disability and persons with disabilities, outline the resulting disadvantages, and detail necessary accommodations; raising awareness; providing advisory services to relevant parties; and providing in-service training when required.
 
ç) Organizing seminars, conferences, and similar events and developing projects on these subjects. 

d) (Changed: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13) Preparing the annual work program, budget proposal, and activity report and submitting to the Rector of Izmir University of Economics.

e)Creating a website that contains publications, documents, and information relevant to the parties involved in matters falling within the scope of the Disability Support Center's duties and activities, enabling students with disabilities studying at the University to voice their problems and requests, and facilitating communication with the relevant unit.
 
f) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12)  Supervising the implementation of the decisions taken and strategies determined.
 
g) Working toward the free provision of tools/equipment for students in financial need.

ğ) (Deleted SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12)
 
h) Ensuring that students with disabilities are provided with the necessary accommodations and arrangements regarding exam-related time, location, materials, and the presence of an assistant, as well as any differences arising from the nature of their disability, without compromising the principle of equal opportunity with other students.

ı) (Deleted SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12)
 
i) Preparing/commissioning informative books that provide information on employment opportunities and professions, and ensuring that these are made available to students with disabilities.
 
j) (Changed SD-07.01.2026-568-B/1) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12)   (Added: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13)  Maintaining records of information regarding the disabilities of students with disabilities who have been accepted into programs at Izmir University of Economics.
 
k) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12)  (Added: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13) Providing the University's senior management with the necessary opinions and recommendations to ensure that the university campus and the buildings and open spaces located on campus are accessible to students with disabilities. 

l) (Added SD 07.01.2026-568-B/1)  Adaptations such as additional time, reader/sign language interpreter support, accessible rooms, and the use of assistive devices for students with disabilities are evaluated and decided upon by the Senate at the beginning of each academic year in accordance with Article 15 of the Regulation on Health Conditions for Exam Applications and Disability Quotas for Individuals with Disabilities, based on the recommendations of the Disability Support Center. 

m) (Added SD 07.01.2026-568-B/1)  In order for foreign students to benefit from exam arrangements for individuals with disabilities, they must apply to the Disability Support Center by submitting a disability health board report detailing the type and degree of disability specified in the the Regulation on Health Conditions for Exam Applications and Disability Quotas for Individuals with Disabilities, published in the Official Gazette dated 08.03.2022 and numbered 31772, which came into effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette, along with the English application form available on the Disability Support Center's website. 
 

Non-Provisional Circumstances
Article 8-(1) (Article no changed: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13)  For matters not covered in these Principles, the provisions of relevant laws and regulations shall apply.
 

SECTION THREE
Effectiveness and Enforcement

Effectiveness
Article 9-(1) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12) (Article No changed: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13) These Principles take effect on the date they are approved by the Senate of Izmir University of Economics.
 
Enforcement
Article 10-(1) (Change SD-27.11.2019-376-A/12) (Article no changed: SD-10/01/2011-164-A/13)  The Rector of the Izmir University of Economics enforces the provisions in these Principles.

 These principles entered into force by the Senate decision dated 07.01.2010 and numbered 146-A/6.