The International Accessible Computing 2024 Congress (BİLTEVT2024), hosted by Manisa Celal Bayar University, and the Accessible Computing 2024 Awards Ceremony were held at the Manisa Anemon Hotel.

Organized by the Turkey Accessible Computing Platform in collaboration with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and Manisa Celal Bayar University, the congress was attended by Manisa Deputy Governor Mustafa Harputlu, MCBU Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Ahmet Çetin and Prof. Dr. Oktay Üçer, Sakarya University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Özer Köseoğlu, Yunusemre Deputy Mayor Ali Gök and Emine Özge Arslan, Berkay Altuğ, the Head of the Department of Judicial Support and Victim Services of the Ministry of Justice, Belma Atak, the Head of the ÖSYM Department for Candidates with Disabilities, Manisa Family and Social Services Provincial Director Mustafa Kılıç, MCBU Secretary General Erhan Doğan, deans, department heads, representatives of the Turkey Accessible Computing Platform, officials from supporting institutions, leaders of disability associations, and citizens with disabilities.

The opening speeches of the congress were delivered by Dr. Mustafa Özhan Kalaç, a faculty member of MCBU and Coordinator of the Turkey Accessible Computing Platform, Dr. Deniz Çağlayan Gümüş, Head of the Department of Disabled and Elderly Services at ASHB, and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Çetin, Vice Rector of MCBU.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Çetin stated, “We prioritize ensuring that our students graduate by benefiting from equal opportunities in education. In this context, we provide necessary arrangements in courses and exams to ensure equal opportunities for our students. We offer positive discrimination practices such as part-time work opportunities and free meal assistance for our disabled students. Furthermore, starting this year, we aim to expand the principle of positive discrimination by implementing special quotas in postgraduate education. As Manisa Celal Bayar University, while continuing our efforts to provide the best services to our disabled staff and students, we are also striving to contribute to the development of IT services for people with disabilities and to create social benefit.”

The congress opening concluded with the presentation of the Accessible Computing Awards for successful IT services for people with disabilities in Turkey, followed by a group photo.

During the three-day congress, eighty-three expert speakers, including ten from abroad, will share their knowledge and experiences in fifteen sessions covering various topics and disability groups. Thirty applied presentations will be made in the academic paper sessions. The sessions will take place both face-to-face and online, and will also be streamed live.