In Elazığ, 14-year-old Muhammed Cüneyt Yalçın, who is diagnosed with Down syndrome, autism, and epilepsy, was allegedly subjected to violence at the special education and rehabilitation center where he was receiving education. After center officials informed the family, his father Mehmet Yalçın went to the center and found signs of beating on his child's body.
There is great negligence in the institution
Shocked by the scene, father Yalçın went to the emergency room of Fırat University Hospital and obtained an initial assault report. Stating that officials said the incident was carried out by another disabled child, father Yalçın argued there was negligence at the center.
Stating that his child had signs of beating, especially on the nape, back, and shoulders, father Yalçın filed a criminal complaint after the assault report.
I also fear my child will not be accepted
Father Mehmet Yalçın, who initiated legal proceedings, also emphasized that he is deeply concerned for his son Muhammed Cüneyt Yalçın because he filed a complaint. Voicing his fear, Yalçın stated: 'When we complain about these things, I also experience the anxiety and fear that other rehabilitation centers will not accept my child and will not admit him because of this. At this point, I expect the authorities to help us.'
Your son was subjected to violence, it was our fault
Father Mehmet Yalçın, recounting the incident at the rehabilitation center, said: 'Around 4 p.m., they called me from the rehabilitation center and said they wanted to meet. When I arrived 45 minutes later, they told me, 'Your son was subjected to violence, it was our fault.' When I asked to see my child, they kept me waiting for about 15 minutes.'
'When my child arrived and I lifted his shirt, I saw excessive marks as if he had been hit with an object. There are very serious signs of beating on my son's shoulder, ear, back, and especially the nape of his neck. I took video and photos of the situation and recorded them. They apologized to me repeatedly and said that another disabled child did this.'
'I pointed out that it was negligence, and I said, 'We entrust our children to you.' After going to Fırat University Hospital emergency polyclinic and obtaining an assault report, I filed a criminal complaint with the judicial authorities,' he said.
They said there were no cameras in the classrooms
Explaining the general difficulties they experience in special education institutions and transportation services and calling for inspections, Yalçın said: 'When I told them I wanted to view the cameras, they said there were no cameras in the classrooms. Why would a severely disabled child and a mildly disabled child be placed in the same room? Additionally, we are having problems with the shuttle services.'
'The shuttle drivers, who say they carry special-needs individuals, ask for a companion to accompany them. When we explained the situation to them, we were met with responses like, 'We cannot take your child; take them to another institution then.' Our expectation is that such special children receive education under better conditions. Our hope is for these schools to be inspected more thoroughly.'
'We hope that we will be helped and that more care will be shown to these children because they are special,' he said.
