The Higher Education Council (YÖK) has announced the universities that have received the "2023 Accessible Universities Awards." KTO Karatay University in Konya, Turkey, has been recognized among the universities receiving the "Accessibility in Space Orange Flag Award," once again making a name for itself with this achievement. The "2023 Accessible Universities" awards, organized by the Higher Education Council (YÖK) to raise awareness in the public about the access of disabled individuals to spaces, educational opportunities, and socio-cultural activities in universities and to promote beneficial practices, have been announced. KTO Karatay University has achieved great success by being among the universities receiving the "Accessibility in Space Orange Flag Award." KTO Karatay University Receives the Orange Flag Award The Accessible Universities Awards, which received a total of 1,091 applications from 97 universities, were granted to 56 universities that demonstrated the most successful efforts in reducing barriers faced by disabled students in their daily lives, ensuring accessibility in spaces, and facilitating access to educational opportunities. The meticulous work on maintaining and ensuring the usability of disabled paths, ramps, and elevators for disabled students to move smoothly on the university campus, facilitating access to all buildings for disabled students, adapting classrooms and laboratories to the needs of disabled individuals, and many other projects have brought KTO Karatay University the award in the "Accessibility in Space" category and the "Orange Flag." Our Determined and Dedicated Efforts Rewarded by YÖK Prof. Dr. Fevzi Rifat Ortaç, the Rector of KTO Karatay University, emphasized the importance of physical access and access to information in special education. He stated, "In our university, we are conducting important studies to facilitate the lives of our disabled students, especially with student-friendly campus facilities, aiming to be barrier-free and accessible. We attach great importance to the Accessible Universities Awards, which are organized to promote the creation of an inclusive ecosystem in universities." Rector Ortaç said, "With the Accessibility in Space Award given by YÖK, our university once again proves its determination and dedicated efforts to facilitate the lives of disabled individuals. We will continue our efforts to enable full participation of disabled individuals in university life in the future. We are delighted to take another step closer to our goal of creating an inclusive educational environment by eliminating barriers. With these feelings and thoughts, I would like to thank all the academic and administrative staff who contributed to our receiving the Orange Flag Award in the 'Accessibility in Space' category of the 2023 Accessible University Awards."
