Turkey will mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday.
In a message, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: "We have witnessed an important change of mentality toward disabled people's involvement in society."
"Our disabled brothers and sisters achieve great things in every field of life including sports, art, literature, education and work; setting examples to society. The success of these people achieved by overcoming difficulties makes us proud," Erdogan said.
He stressed that he gives great importance to making disabled people's lives easier.
"We, who see our disabled citizens as an inseparable part of our society, took essential steps within the last 15 years, regarding the solutions of their problems," Erdogan said, adding that his government continued to lift the obstacles to their education by re-arranging schools, cities and streets.
"It is our duty to encourage our disabled brothers and sisters, to give them a helping hand when they need it… to support them for the solution of their problems and to be with them in every step that will ease their lives," he said.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed Dec. 3 as the International Day of Disabled Persons in 1992.
