PRODUCTS MADE BY CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME DRAW ADMIRATION

Products created by children with intellectual disabilities and Down Syndrome were displayed at Acıbadem Bağdat Medical Center. At the event held in cooperation with Tomurcuk Cooperative, support was provided for the children's education, and it was demonstrated what these special children could achieve with educational opportunities offered to them... Acıbadem Bağdat Medical Center held a special event on the occasion of Mothers' Day. Products made by children with Down Syndrome together with their mothers in the workshops of Tomurcuk Cooperative, which has made a difference through its work on employment participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Turkey, were exhibited to raise awareness on this subject.

They are the strong children of strong mothers

Acıbadem Bağdat Medical Center Operations Manager Tülay Orbay Yazıcı stated that the interest shown in the event, which is being held for the second time this year, makes them very happy, and said: "I believe we should provide support within our means, without forgetting that these children are the 'special' members of our society. They create success stories. Mothers are the invisible heroes of these stories. We came together on the occasion of Mothers' Day to show that we are always by their side. In the years ahead, we will continue this support through different projects."

For them to be productive individuals, not consumers

During the three-day event, visitors were also provided with information about Down Syndrome. Yasemin Arınel, Institution Manager of Tomurcuk Cooperative and mother of Dila, who has Down Syndrome, gave visitors the following information about the work carried out by the cooperative and its needs. "Tomurcuk Cooperative is a non-profit civil society organization. The goal is to rehabilitate individuals with intellectual disabilities so that these individuals receive quality and functional education, gain independent living skills, and become as self-sufficient as possible. Furthermore, training and practical opportunities are provided for them to participate in employment. At Down Cafe, which was opened to enable them to become productive individuals, they receive the necessary training to work as service staff. As a cooperative, we are preparing to graduate our first graduates in June. This way, our children will have opportunities to work outside as well. In addition, the rhythm group we formed performs concerts at various locations throughout Turkey, at universities, conferences, and municipal events. Furthermore, drama, folklore, and dance groups also conduct awareness-raising activities through free performances."

Mothers living 24/7 lives with two people

Yasemin Arınel, saying "Our primary goal is to help these children find a place in society and be seen through what they do," explained: "We try to support the mothers of children with disabilities as well. These mothers have to spend 24 hours with their children. They need even a single moment to be alone with themselves, and they cannot find time for their hobbies and personal development. We provide them with entrepreneurship and personal development training, and psychological counseling services if they need them. We have also opened production workshops where they can work together with their children. In these workshops, we prepare products such as cloth bags for many municipalities. The most important problem for a mother with a disabled child is living a 24/7 life with two people. We conduct education for the children all day so that these mothers, like everyone else, can set aside time for themselves and gain motivation, morale, and strength. In this way, we save time for mothers while allowing children to be with their friends. Through the awareness-raising work we and organizations like ours do and the support institutions provide to their social responsibility projects, we see that the perception of these children in society is changing. We thank Acıbadem Health Group for the support it provided to our children on this special day."