A project has been developed to help disabled citizens go out and travel on their own. Thanks to the project carried out by the Barrier-Free Access and Transportation Association, disabled citizens are provided services with specially prepared vehicles.
In Turkey, 8.5 million disabled individuals, making up 12.5% of the population, face a range of issues in terms of transportation. These include challenges in reaching doctors, rehabilitation, therapy appointments, work trips, interviews, social and group events, airport transfers, shopping, cultural activities, and short trips. Considering these difficulties, the Barrier-Free Access and Transportation Association developed a social responsibility project and a business model to address this issue.
Esat Hancı, the founder and president of the Barrier-Free Access and Transportation Association, who also provides consultancy to other disability associations and public institutions regarding disabled transportation and vehicles, created this project due to the transportation difficulties he experienced while caring for his mother and aunt during their illnesses. The project, which was developed with years of experience, effort, and dedication, uses vehicles that meet European standards and aims to solve this issue in Turkey. This model is the first of its kind in the country.
HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK?
With this new system, a disabled or elderly citizen can call the call center 24/7 and tell them their destination. A driver will then pick them up from their home using a specially equipped vehicle and take them to the desired location. The specially equipped vehicles feature a tracking system, voice and video recording system, a mobile and wheelchair-accessible front seat system that can help the disabled person get out of the vehicle and go to their home, options for female drivers or drivers who speak foreign languages, and more.
WHO IS ESAT HANCI?
Esat Hancı is an automobile racer, founder of Nasyonel A.Ş., a member of the AKUT Search and Rescue Association Board of Directors, a member of the Motorsports Federation, and has been involved in numerous volunteer projects with mentally disabled children at the Child Protection Agency. He has spent years working towards solutions and improvements for disabled transportation in Turkey. Motivated by the transportation difficulties his mother and aunt faced, he turned his attention to this issue. Born in Istanbul in 1964, he completed his primary education at Nişanca Primary School and secondary education at Galatasaray High School before leaving school due to personal reasons.
In 1992, he founded Nasyonel A.Ş., which became the Turkish distributor for companies like Remus, Cobra, Climair, and Azev, specializing in cars and motorcycles. From 1992 onwards, he participated professionally in off-road and rally championships, earning various awards.
He is the founder and president of the Barrier-Free Access and Transportation Association. Among the organizations he is a member of are the Turkish Heart Foundation (active member), AKUT Search and Rescue Association (Board Member), and Jeep-Club Germany. In 1997, he organized the "Şakamera" program with Hıncal Uluç on ATV and the "Arka Sokak" program on Interstar, and he also hosted automotive-related segments on TGRT's "Dikiz Aynası" program. He continues to write articles about the automotive industry in various sports magazines and has participated in international expos such as the Dubai Motorshow, Moscow Motorshow, Automechanika in Germany, and IAA fairs since 2006 to support Turkey's promotion abroad and work on accessory promotions with the Germans.