M3rd December 2004: METU Rektor Prof.Dr. Ural Akbulut appointed Turkey's first Disability Support Coordinator to METU's Career Planning Centre.

But many things had happened before then. We know that in the 70s and 80s disabled METU students were supported through strong friendship networks and volunteers in different departments. In 1990, the dozen blind students established a student club to develop support and understanding of their needs. In 2000, METU's first access project, led by a quadraplegic graduate Tunç Tonger in collaboration with the Rotary Club and the Department of City and Rural Planning, surveyed the entire campus and provided full wheelchair access to the Physics Department.

In January 2003 METU Rektor Prof.Dr. Ural Akbulut initiated the first systematic search for disabled students at METU. 12 people were found; the number soon rose to 19 and now we know of 33 disabled students (2005-6 academic year).

But there must be many more, students with unseen disabilities, students who do not think they count as disabled, like those with MS, epilepsy, schizophrenia,
diabetes or dyslexia. The Disability Support Coordination Unit now cooperates with the Registrar's office, the Computer Centre, the Manager of the Dormitories, departments and teams at the Sports Centre to identify new disabled students.