Children with special needs had a delightful day in nature

As part of the ‘Week of the Disabled’ organized by the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, children with special needs had a delightful day in nature at Tarsus Culture Park. Children of all ages enjoyed various activities at the event area, with the younger ones releasing their energy in inflatable play groups, while the older children watched the stage show performed by animators with great admiration. Enjoying the beautiful weather, the children spent a pleasant time in nature, dancing throughout the day to the music played. Traditional games such as tug of war, sack race, and musical chairs were played at the event, where children competed with each other in a sweet rivalry. The children’s favorite treats such as cotton candy and popcorn were also distributed. Parents accompanied their children, and families, who were even happier seeing the joy of their children, found this event organized by the municipality very meaningful and satisfying.
Abdullah Gerboğa, the Branch Manager of the Disabled Department under the Health Affairs Directorate, stated that they organized an event in Tarsus as part of the Week of the Disabled, where children with special needs from Mola House, special education schools, and rehabilitation centers participated with their families. He mentioned that it was a very pleasant and cheerful event, where children played games, danced, watched stage performances, and competed under the supervision of their teachers. Popcorn and cotton candy treats were also offered to the children. Gerboğa emphasized that as the Metropolitan Municipality, they organize many activities throughout the year for individuals with special needs, providing support to help them become independent individuals in society.
Fatih Düzenli, the President of the Tarsus Autism Association, expressed that the event organized by the Metropolitan Municipality during the Week of the Disabled raised awareness, especially for children with special needs. He hoped that such events would increase and awareness would grow further, highlighting the shift in understanding disabilities from being limited to orthopedic and visually impaired individuals to now including individuals with autism, Down syndrome, and other special needs. Dursun Arslan, the President of the Tarsus Disabled Platform, mentioned that both the Metropolitan Municipality and their platform aim to promote the social inclusion of disabled individuals and develop projects that address the issues faced by disabled people during the Week of the Disabled. He praised the municipality for setting a good example in Turkey and stated that they support their activities by participating and raising awareness about the problems of disabled individuals.
Hüseyin Göktaş, one of the children, expressed his happiness at the event, saying that he came with his friends and had a great time.