REPORT ON THE HEARING IMPAIRED IN TURKEY

IntroductionDue to difficulties in reaching information

specific to the hearing impaired, we gathered information on the disabled in general terms.

Another point we have determined during our literature search is that statistical data is smoewhat different. However, we have used the most reliable sources while preparing this report.

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ABOUT TURKEY:

* POPULATION (31.12.2007):70 586 256

* DISABLED POPULATION:8.5 MILLION

* % 50 OF THE DISABLED YOUNGER THAN 34 AGES

(Source: www.milliyet.com.tr and ozar.net/go/yazilar/turk_2007_nufus-38k)

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Graphic 1:The Share of Population of Disabilities in Turkey

Disabled People Population Share in Whole Turkey

12%

88% DisabledPeopleNormal People

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Graphic 2: Literate/illiterate Percent of Disabled Population

Literate/illiterate Percent of the Disabled Population in Turkey

64%

36%

illiterate

Litearate

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Graphic 3: Disabled Labor Force Participation Rate in 2006

Labor Force Participation Rate in Turkey

22%

78%

Disabled LaborForce

Total DisabledPeople in Turkey

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HEARING DISABILITYIN TURKEY

While preparing this report we realized that;.

“One of the biggest difficulties is that the definition of hearing disability differs across the institutions and lacks a set standard.”

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Although some statistics shows different numbers; *According to the UN Report there are 2.5 million Hearing Disabled in Turkey (www.yasadikca.com)

*According to 1997 Disability Survey realised by Turkish National Statistical Institute and Administration for Disabled People, There are 377 193 Hearing Disabled in Turkey. (www.ozelegitimciler.org).

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*According to 2002 Turkish National Statistic Data more than %12 of whole population is Disabled in Turkey. More than 1/3 disability is Hearing of Disabled Population. (www.tuik.gov.tr )

* According to some documents (www.turkdeaf.org) there are more than 3 million hearing Disabled (deaf) people live in Turkey.

We think that more or less 2 million Hearing Disabled live in Turkey

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Graphic 4: Reasons of Hearing Disability

Hearing Disability Reasons

29%

68%

3%

Congenital

Subsequent

Unknown

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Graphic 5: Male/ Female Ratio in Hearing Disabled

Male/ Female Ratio in Hearing Disabled

55%

45%Male Hearing Disabled

Female hearing Disabled

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LEGAL RIGHTS OF THE HEARING IMPAIRED INDIVIDUAL IN TURKEY

Due to a lack of standard definition for the hearing disability, the legal rights of the hearing impaired are not fully functional. However, the have their educational and vocational rights in the laws.

The lack of standards for hearing disability types leads to legal malpractices for the disabled.

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Graphic 6: Social Security Administration for Hearing Disabled

Social Security Administration for Hearing Disabled in Turkey

12%

88%Having not anySocial SecurityHave some kindof Social Sec.

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Graphic 7 : Hearing Disability Benefiting From Official Care

Hearing Disability Benefiting From Official Care

5%

95%Receiving Care

Not ReceivingCare

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Educational Life of The Hearing Impaired

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Turkish Education System

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* According to 2002 General Population Statistics;

There were (approximately) 72.000 hearing disabled in primary school age.

*In 2007 there are only 49 primary schools for Hearing Disabled in whole country

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SCHOOL/ INSTITUTION

TYPE

Number of

schools

Number of students

Total (include.

the director)

number of teachers

Total number

of directors

Pre-school

teachers

Class teachers

Branch teachers

Teacher for

special education

of disabled

Counselor teachers

Elementary Schools for Hearing impaired Students

49 5429 1072 192 8 113 323 390 40

VocationalHigh Schools for Hearing impaired Students

15 1279 202 42 148 11

TOTAL FOR ALL DISABLED PEOPLE

537 school

1 Inst.

27.439 hospitals

/ schools not included

4979 686 48 1330 1806 883 217

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According to 2002 General Population Statistics;

* There were (approximately) 87.000 hearing disabled in high school age.

* In 2007 there are 15 vocational high schools for Hearing Disabled

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According to 2002 General Population Statistics;

* There were (approximately) 96.000 hearing disabled in university ages.

(Source: www.ozida.gov.tr)

*(approximately %1 of them can go to Two-Year-Vocational Schools and universities)

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1 664 364 students studied in 76 universities in Turkey in 2000-2001 academic year. SOURCE : ( www.yok.gov.tr )

Thus; Max. 960 Hearing Disabled can go to university in the same academic year.

( We have no certain scientific data)

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Graphic 8: Educational situation of Hearing Disabled in 2006-2007 Educational Term

Education Situation Of Hearing Impaired

37%

42%

5%

16%

İlliterate

Literate

Do not Know

NotSchool graduate

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Graphic 9: The Rate of Hearing Disabled in the different level of education

Hearing Disabled in Education Life

37%

17%

31%

6%0%

5% 2%2% 0%

illiterate

Literate but not any school

Primary School

Secondary School

Equal Secondary School

High School

Vocational High School

2 years Highest or 4 years Faculty

Master or PhD Degree

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Graphic 10 : Education Situation of the Hearing Impaired

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Education Situation Of Hearing Impaired

37%

42%

5%

16%

İlliterate

Literate

Do not Know

NotSchool graduate

Vocational and Skill Courses Taken by the Deaf in Turkey

A SPECIAL RESEARCH IN 2002 AND RESULTS ABOUT “INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING EDUCATION SERVICES TO THE HEARING (IMPAIRED) DISABLED INDIVIDUALS IN TURKEY”

We may find out institutions educating the impaired in Turkey from results of researches carried out in general for the impaired individual in Turkey. (www.ozida.gov.tr)

*They asked to 249.133 Hearing Disabled, only 404 of them said “ we have taken vocational skill courses”

*Thus we can say only, 1 % of hearing Disabled used to avail these courses.

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Activities of THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND

SOCIAL SECURITY TURKISH EMPLOYMENT

ASSOCIATION GENERAL DIRECTORATE

JOB AND PROFESSION COUNSELLING SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED

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Job and profession counselling services are provided in centres under Employment Association Directorates in 42 cities across the country. Given these facts, the disabled seem to receive counselling. But unfortunately, this is just theoretical, not practiced)

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Working Age Population (approx.):

% 26.4 of whole population is: 15- 64 Ages

( Source:www.buluyon.com.tr ) (it means: 18.900.000 people)

%40 of Hearing Disabled in working age( Source: www.ozida.gov.tr )(It means : 250.000 people)

* %1 OF WORKING AGE POPULATION IS

HEARING DISABLED

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WORKING LIFE OF THE HEARING IMPAIRED INDIVIDUAL

Following Table shows impaired individuals’ reasons for unemployment in Turkey.

18.2 % of the Hearing Impaired are evaluated as unable to work. It might not be wrong to conclude that the impaired is limited to reach to working life, based on these values, for only 16.8 % of the Seeing Impaired could work, though only 15.4 % of them were evaluated as “unable to work”.

In other words, impaired having a “able to work” report do not reach the working life. To summarize, impaired individuals are isolated in home and limited to reach the public sphere and exist over there.

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Physically Disabled Seeing Impaired

Hearing Impaired Speaking Impaired Mental Impaired

Student

6,0 8,2 8,0 8,5 4,8

Housewife/girl

34,1 38,7 37,1 19,5 13,1

Retired

16,0 16,9 18,2 8,1 2,0

Income Earner

1,9 2,5 2,1 0,7 0,9

Unable to work

27,0 15,4 18,2 45,9 63,9

Cannot find a job

5,5 4,5 5,4 10,3 7,8

Will start working

0,1 0,2 0,1 7,0 7,4

Other

9,4 13,7 10,8 8,5 4,8

Total 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 100,0%30

STUDIES ON TURKISH SIGN LANGUAGE

Despite the fact that the disabled students were integrated in the regular education system since the 1950s and special schools for the disabled have been established, a method based on lip reading forcing to speak and a communication method supported with body language were emphasised.

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Later, (1950) Turkish Sign Language was created in order to support the educational lives of the hearing impaired.

Nevertheless, the observation that the hearing impaired communicate among themselves using sign language required more attention to the sign language in 2005.

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The sign language used in Turkey does not have a national characteristic yet and therefore the signs and their meanings can be different in different parts of the country.

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The procedures and principles for the creation and application of the Turkish Sign Language were published in the Official Gazette in 2006 and put into effect under full authority of Turkish Language Association and Ministry of National Language (Official

Gazette Issue: 26139). Studies are still in progress on this matter.

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Graphic 11: The Ratio of Sign Language Competent Disabled

Hearing Disabled who know Sign Language

30%

2%

18%

50%

Sign Language ( very well)

Sign Language ( well )

Sign Language ( little )

Sign Language ( not)

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Vogs Turkey Application

( WP I )

ACTION 1 :VOGS Project was analyzed in general, and the duties and responsibilities of the group members were determined.

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RESULTS:Prj.Manager: TO; cooperation, research, Apply

Vogs I, interviews, inquires and report

Prj Technicien: TO;finans, translate,web page

Sub Cont.with the Education and Rehabilitation Centre: To audiologic tests

Sign Lang.expert: Translate Vogs to sign lang.

Target Groups:Schools,Factories and Guidance Research Centres’ Counsellors for deaf

GRC: To; research and adaptation tests

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ACTION 2 :Literature survey about the hearing impaired

RESULTS:You can see (as a product) a research REPORT OF HEARING DISABILITY IN TURKEY is presented underneath and Sign Language CD .

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WP II

ACTION 1 : Realized a First National Meeting on the 14th December 2007, as the first step of the project.

Everyone, who was interested in the problems in educational, social and work life of the deaf people, and who was trying to find a way to solve these problems by providing guidance, was invited to this meeting.

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RESULTS:

1-The definition and perception of hearing disability differs across the institutions and lacks a set standard.

2- Legal arrangements looks sufficient, but different definitions and perception of hearing disability make some difficulties in the legal arrengements.

3-Limited academic researches in terms of hearing impaired individuals in Turkey.

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3- Bursa is important city for hearing Disabled, because of has one of the Vocational High Schools for the Hearing Disabled, one of the most successful ones comprising one elementary and secondary school too and provides specific services especially to elementary education level children together with Nilüfer District National Education Direction Guidance and Research Centre (GRC)

(in Turkish: RAM ).

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4- Another important point is the non-existence of grounds where the hearing impaired can benefit from all his/her rights together with all other impaired individuals in the practice,

daily life, working life, educational life and in full participation to social life, though legal arrangements are more or less sufficient in the country.

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5- In Turkey, Sign Language used between the hearing impaired is not a real sign Language because it hasn’t got enough specifications to make it a language.Therefore, this kind of communication might only be regarded as “sign” or “body language”, not “sign language”.

6- We haven’t got any special counsellors and counselling processes for the hearing impaired in our working places and schools.

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7- While laws are preserving hearing impaired’s places in books, good and adequate applications to support them are very limited for institutions due practical difficulties namely;

-additional costs

-shortage in qualified personnel for supporting services

-additional work loads

-need for special time, special person and special equipment and difficulties to set apart and assign them

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ACTION 2: The Research Of Hearing (Impaired ) Disabled Students In Uludağ University . We used special inquiry , based on replies to the question “do you have any health problem / physical handicap preventing the following of your education on normal conditions?”

* Inquiry applyed to (2424) Uludağ University’s Vocational Shool Students

We take information from schools managers for the other 35 000students by vice rector’s letter.

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RESULTS:

In 2005-2006 …. 25 hearing impaired students

In 2006-2007 … 18 the hearing impaired students

In 2007-2008 … 15 the hearing impaired studentsin Uludağ University

it decreased to … 12 students

Ps.:1 student finished , 1 of them left the school during the research and 1 of them refused to participate.

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ACTION 3: Before to take information directly from Hearing Disabled about their needs and to understand their idea and satisfaction degree about Guidance Services that gives for them,to make pre interview with the sample groups,to explain our purpose and take their hearing problem history by a psychologist with a standart form and to know their hearing level by an audiologist.

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RESULTS:

Interviews with students from Uludağ University and their family and Nilüfer Vocational High School for the Deaf were carried out by the GRC.

* (The results can be found in the book.)

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RESULTS:

49

104

234

76

0

50

100

150

200

250

2006 2007 2008(JANUARY-

APRIL)

Seri 1

ACTION 4: Audiologic tests for the students from Uludağ University (9) and Nilüfer Vocational High School for the Deaf (6) were carried out.

RESULT:* (The results can be found in the book.)

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ACTION 5: Assesment to Academic Performance of Students

The students from Uludağ University (13) and Nilüfer Vocational High School for the Deaf (13) were assessed for their academic competence.

(The results can be found in the book.)

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ACTION 6 : Nilüfer Vocational High School for the Deaf (156) were carried out.

ACTION 7: Surveys for students from Uludağ University (13 )

The purpose of the surveys was to determine whether the students are pleased with the counselling services provided at schools.

Some sample questions and results are as follows: 52

RESULTS: (Uludağ University ) Q: To whom do you call on primarily when you cannot solve your problems individually at school?”

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RESULTS:

Nilüfer Vocational high School for the Deaf

To whom do you call on primarily when you cannot solve your problems individually at school?”

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RESULTS:

Uludağ University

What is your best way of communication with others?

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RESULTS:

Nilüfer Vocational high School for the Deaf

What is your best way of communication with others?

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ACTION 8: A survey was carried out for all (23) teachers in the Nilüfer Vocational High School for the Deaf.

The focus was the problems they experience in doing their jobs.

RESULT: (The results can be found in the book.)

( SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AT THE FOLLOW )

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RESULTS:

Nilüfer Vocational high School for the Deaf

Are you sign language competent?

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RESULTS:

Nilüfer Vocational high School for the Deaf

Have you received any special training to teach the hearing impaired?

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RESULTS:

Nilüfer Vocational high School for the Deaf

What do you think the main reason for the academic failure of the impaired students is?

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ACTION 9: A survey was carried out for 11 special counselling teachers from 11 different schools for the disabled in general.

The focus was the problems they experience in doing their jobs.

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RESULTS:

What’s your method of communication with the deaf?

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RESULTS:

Do you apply any special tests for the students?

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RESULTS:

Have you received any special training for counselling the disabled?

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RESULTS:

Do you provide efficient career planning for the disabled?

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ACTION 10: An e-survey was carried out for the counselling services for the disabled in 30 universities.

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RESULTS:

19 of them replied our inquiry

17 have centres ( a standard procedure exists which has to be developed)

1 have psychological counsellor in the centre

19 do not know sign language and never take a help from sign language expert.

Total 21 hearing impaired students ( *more details in the book )

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ACTION 11: A survey was carried out for 4 GRCs.RESULTS:1 special staff is available for the deaf, but they are not sign language competent. ( Further details in the book.)

ACTION 12: Research About Special Tests For DeafRESULTS: ( Further details in the book.)

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ACTION 13: A survey was carried out for 200 workplaces.

RESULTS:

61 replied,13 of them employ hearing impaired workers together with other workers with other kind of disabilities.

( Further details in the book.)

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ACTION 14: A survey for workers.We sent our inquiry forms to 13 workplaces that have Hearing Disabled workers.

RESULT: No reply yet.

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ACTION 15: An interview with the Job and Employment Association was carried out.

The purpose of the interview was to learn if any special counselling is provided for the hearing impaired.

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RESULTS:

No speacialist for the hearing impaired.

Only one survey is used to determine the eligibility for jobs.

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ACTION 16: The website for VOGS+ is under construction. The address is

http://vogs.uludag.edu.tr

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THANK YOU!

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