Barrier-Free (Unobstructed) Cinema and Activity Center was opened at the Near East University in collaboration with the Faculty of Communication and Telsim. Individuals with special needs will benefit from the centre free of charge, which is designed in a special way to serve the disabled people.
According to the press information released by the Near East University Press and Public Relations Directorate, Near East University Vice Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt, Vice Rector of Girne University Prof. Dr. Gökmen Dağlı, Telsim Deputy General Manager Fevzi Tanpınar, Social Services Department Director Aydan Başkurt and Disabled Services Coordination Board President Günay Kibrit, as well as faculty members, Telsim officials and representatives of associations and foundations working on individuals with special needs participated at the opening ceremony that took place at Centre located on the ground floor of the Faculty of Communication.
The Barrier-Free Cinema and Activity Center stands out with its “Tactile Paving Path” which was designed with a system of textured ground indicator to assist visually impaired people, menus designed in braille, disabled parking places and other technical equipment meeting the needs of people with special needs.
It was stated in the press statment that all the activities and services carried out at the centre will be free-of-charge for the individuals with special needs.
Assist. Prof. Dr Nuran Öze; “Barrier-free Cinema and Activity Center is an important beginning in overcoming a barrier our country…”
Near East University Faculty of Communication Vice Dean Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuran Öze, in her speech at the opening ceremony stated that the Barrier-Free Cinema and Activity Center is an important beginning where academic perspective and practice have been combined to overcome a barrier and close an existing gap in the country. Assist. Prof. Dr. Öze gave the following information about the center: Our center has potentials to hold facilities that will support activities such as trainings, seminars and workshops for small groups, and is equipped with technical infrastructure and internet connections. At the same time, it is designed for cinema and special screenings with a seating capacity of 20 people, a wheelchair potential of 5 people at the front. Our center, which is small but meaningful and well-equipped, will offer all services free of charge to the individuals, associations, foundations and special education centers with special needs.
Öze stated that the seeds of the thought to establish such a center were planted more than a year ago. Öze said “Thanks to everyone who created this idea and contributed to the establishment process. With the contribution of Telsim, we had a chance to create a more complete project beyond our estimations.”
Günay Kibrit; “Near East University and the work put forward by Telsim is very meaningful …”
Günay Kibrit, the President of Disabled Services Coordination Committee, in his speech stated that centre established by two institutions, Near East University Faculty of Communication and Telsim, is a very meaningful one and will help to raise awareness towards the disabled, as well as adding new concepts and dimensions to education.
Obstacles will be eliminated…
Telsim’s Deputy General Manager Fevzi Tanpınar said first they had started to eliminate the obstacles and have succeded to make all of their shops and the complex of the general directorate barrier-free. After this, Tanpınar stated that the institution had accelerated its efforts towards the disabled in line with its social responsibility perspective and that the cinema hall they realized together with the Near East University was one of these examples.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt; “… Innovation is the most important element of our Mission…”
Vice Rector of Near East University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt also made a speech at the opening. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kurt said, ”Innovation is the most important element of our mission, and the contribution we put into the Barrier-Free Cinema and Activity Center for service-priority individuals (not disabled) is one example of this.”
After the opening speeches, the managers and representatives of the companies cut the ribbon together and opened the Barrier-Free Cinema and Activity Center.
Bahire Doğru; “The Barrier-Free Cinema and Activity Center is an important Center for our society”
Pointing out her opinion on the Barrier-Free Cinema and Activity Center, Bahire Doğru, the President of Hearing and Speaking Impaired Foundation, emphasized the importance of the hall and said that it is an important center for the society because it can address to individuals with disabilities in order to create a barrier-free environment.