The March 21 World Down Syndrome Day event, organized by Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Educational Sciences, Department of Special Education to inform the society about Down syndrome and raise awareness, was held in the Central Classroom Building Ground Floor Foyer Area.
Our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Yaşar BÜLBÜL, Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences Prof. Dr. Eyüp SEVİMLİ, Assistant Deans of the Faculty of Educational Sciences Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hatice FAKİOĞLU BAĞCI and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mutlu AKSOY, our staff and students attended the event.
At the event, the students of the Department of Special Education explained that Down syndrome is a genetic difference and that this difference is caused by the presence of three copies of the 21st chromosome in individuals with Down syndrome. They also tried to raise awareness by participating in the activity of wearing colorful and different socks, which is held worldwide on March 21, as chromosome shapes are similar to socks. During the event, students wore different colored socks with the slogan #rengimizbelliolsun and provided information about Down syndrome.
The event aimed at raising social awareness on Down syndrome and highlighted that individuals with Down syndrome sometimes face social exclusion due to misconceptions in the society and emphasized the importance of supporting more active participation of individuals with Down syndrome in social life, making them more visible and making society more sensitive to differences. In addition, information was given about some of the technologies developed for these individuals to lead a healthy lifestyle against various health risks.
This corporate social responsibility activity of our university drew attention to the socio-economic inequalities that all individuals with disabilities, including individuals with Down syndrome, are sometimes exposed to in society, and demonstrated the importance of empowerment activities for these individuals to reduce these inequalities.
