Association Calls to Boycott December 3

"We are calling everyone to protest the December 3 celebrations as long as  persons with disabilities are being seen as a "visual object" without providing them the necessary living conditions," Engelsiz Hayat (Life Without Disabilities) Help Association said in a statement on Friday.

The association chairman Adem Kuyumcu called to protest today's activities, saying that persons with disabilities in Turkey have "no success story to celebrate".

"Their problems remain to this very day: Urban planning ignores them, education is inaccessible, finding a job is impossible and so many challenges exist for an equal life with rest of the society. They either lose the hope to integrate into society or commit suicide."

"They are seen as visual objects for grief"

Kuyumcu said on Turkish municipalities organize parades with highly disabled people to show off their accomplishments. "On every December 3, these people with dawn syndromes and other disabilities are seen as visual objects for grief."

Kuyumcu also said the December 3 activities in Turkey only aim at fulfilling formality duties for many officials while humiliating persons with disabilities.

"What are you going to celebrate?"

The association statement cited a variety of challenges for persons with disabilities, asking "What are you going to celebrate?" on December 3.

* Will you celebrate the death of our beloved member due to bad urban planning in Ankara?

* Will you celebrate the grief of hundreds who can't access to schools, hospitals and state buildings?

* Will you celebrate for the autistic children who had to drop schools because of the commute?

* Will you celebrate the "un-success" stories of thousands at work?

* Will you celebrate the ones who can't get "disability deductions" and afford necessary hearing equipment?

* Will you celebrate charity-like campaigns, alienations towards persons with disabilities in Turkey? Will you celebrate their misery? (NV)