Barrier-Free Cities for Individuals with Special Needs

Individuals with special needs are defined as individuals who differ significantly from their peers in terms of their individual characteristics and educational qualifications for various reasons. While some of the individuals with special needs show abilities above the average, some of them show some deficiencies in mental, physical, behavioral or sensory organs. Problems faced by individuals in interaction with the environment due to mental, physical, behavioral or sensory deficiencies can be defined as disability. From this point of view, it can be said that disabled individuals have problems in meeting their daily needs and including to society and they need support because of these problems. However, with various arrangements that can be made, the problems experienced by disabled people can be eliminated. According to today's contemporary understanding of law, cities and the services provided should be accessible to all people, based on the fact of universal human rights that all people have. The aim of this study is to examine the concept of "barrier-free city", which means that cities are accessible to all individuals without any problems, within the framework of the legal rights of individuals with special needs. In this context, the concept of a barrier-free city with its legal basis, studies and suggestions related to the subject in the world and in Turkiye are discussed.