Accessible Campus Infrastructure for People with Disabilities

Boğaziçi University is committed to ensuring barrier-free physical access across its campuses and promoting an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities. Boğaziçi University GETEM (Assistive Technology and Education Laboratory for Individuals with Visual Disabilities), in collaboration with key campus units—including the Directorate of Construction and Technical Works, the Dormitories and Housing Management, the Food Services Unit, and the Sports Unit—coordinates comprehensive initiatives to provide accessible buildings, transportation routes, emergency systems, and cultural facilities that support equal participation in academic and social life.

1. Accessible Campus Infrastructure

Boğaziçi University, in collaboration with its campus units, has implemented a range of structural and operational measures to enhance physical accessibility across campus buildings and circulation routes.

Accessible Buildings

Accessible Entrances

• Building entrances across campus are equipped with ramps to ensure step-free access for individuals with reduced mobility.
• An audible warning system and an assistance call button have been installed at the revolving entrance door of the North Campus cafeteria to support safe and independent access

Elevators in Academic and Administrative Buildings

• Elevators are available in academic and administrative buildings to facilitate vertical circulation and ensure full participation in campus life.

Classroom Arrangements

• When necessary, classroom locations are reorganised to ensure that courses are held in physically accessible spaces.

Accessible Restrooms

• Accessible toilets are available in campus facilities to accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Visual Fire Alarm Systems

• Residential units and other campus buildings are equipped with visual fire alarm systems designed to ensure the safety of individuals with hearing impairments.

Accessible Campus Environment

Accessible Routes

• Campus maps indicating accessible buildings and routes are provided to facilitate orientation.
• On-campus shuttle vehicles are available to improve mobility within the campus area.
• Tactile paving surfaces, ramps, and elevators are available along campus pathways and pedestrian routes to support safe and independent mobility.

Accessible Parking Areas

• Designated accessible parking spaces are available throughout the campus for individuals with disabilities.

Audible Traffic Signals

• Two major intersections on the North Campus are equipped with audible traffic signals to ensure safe pedestrian crossings for individuals with visual impairments.

2. Accessible Cultural and Social Facilities

SineBU – Accessible Cinema Infrastructure

SineBU was established through the collaboration of GETEM (Assistive Technology and Education Laboratory for Individuals with Visual Disabilities), the Boğaziçi University Disability Commission, the Boğaziçi University Cinema Club, and volunteer academics and students.

Located on the North Campus, SineBU is Türkiye’s first cinema hall equipped with audio description technology, enabling visually impaired individuals to access cinematic content without assistance. Audio description involves a narrated voice track that fills in the visual elements of a film beyond dialogue, describing the setting, time, characters, actions, visual details, and emotional expressions that unfold silently on screen.

With the primary objective of ensuring that visually, auditorily, and orthopedically impaired individuals have independent and equal access to cinematic content, SineBU conducts pioneering initiatives in collaboration with associations, foundations, and public institutions. It is also among the founding members of the “Equal Access to Culture” platform, established to advance inclusive cultural participation.

Click here to access the SineBU web page.

Digital Library

Boğaziçi University GETEM (Assistive Technology and Education Laboratory for Individuals with Visual Disabilities)’s library collection comprises 58,514 accessible materials, including audiobooks, e-books, audio-described films, newspapers, magazines, articles, medical leaflets, and radio recordings, to ensure equal and easy access to information for visually impaired individuals in Türkiye.

With a membership of over 10,000 users, members can access GETEM’s digital resources 24/7. Through our volunteer readers, members can access thousands of audiobooks and e-books without requiring individual copyright permissions. All audiobooks are also easily accessible on mobile devices via the Easy Reader application, available free of charge on iOS, Android, and Windows.

In addition, Boğaziçi University Library has specially designed audio study rooms for visually impaired students, equipped to support independent study.

Click here to access GETEM’s web page.

Institutional Impact

Accessible University Award

Boğaziçi University, which carries out comprehensive and systematic efforts to reduce barriers faced by students with disabilities and to provide accessible facilities and resources, has been recognised as an “Accessible University” by the Council of Higher Education of Türkiye.

The University received awards in three distinct categories: Access to Education, Physical Accessibility, and Accessibility in Socio-Cultural Activities.

Within this framework:

• North Campus received an award in the category of Accessibility in Socio-Cultural Activities.
• The Faculty of Education received awards in all three categories: Access to Education, Physical Accessibility, and Accessibility in Socio-Cultural Activities.

Click here to access the related news.

Boğaziçi University continues to improve its campus infrastructure through regular accessibility assessments and alignment with national accessibility regulations. As part of these efforts, the University aims to establish institution-wide accessibility standards, standardise physical accessibility across all campuses, and expand inclusive infrastructure, including tactile guidance surfaces, ramps, and audible warning systems. These structural measures support the safe, independent, and equitable participation of all individuals—including students, staff, and visitors with disabilities—in campus life and ensure barrier-free mobility throughout the University.