As part of the Erasmus+ mobility programme, Raziye Uğurlu, a researcher and PhD student at Necmettin Erbakan University, was a guest at the Institute for Disability and Social Participation from 12 to 15 October. Raziye’s research focuses on supporting emotional regulation in students with autism, which is why her professional programme activities were primarily geared towards this target group.

On the first day of her visit, she took part in an international discussion alongside representatives from Tallinn University and ELTE, which focused on support for university students with special needs.

One of the highlights of the professional week was a visit to the Hungarian Autistic Society, where the participants were welcomed by Imola Kapitány (president), and Éva Dénesné Spitzer (executive director). During the discussion, they addressed the challenges faced by the autistic communities in Turkey and Hungary, and there was also an opportunity to exchange experiences on best practices. The Turkish services designed to relieve the burden on families and provide support caught the participants’ attention, so they agreed to explore opportunities for further cooperation and the exchange of experiences.

On the final day of ErasmusDays, the participants jointly attended a course entitled ‘Introduction to disability studies and its latest tendencies’, organised using the global classroom technique. The week’s guests were Dr Sarah Hurwitz, an autism researcher, and Lesley Davis, an accessibility expert, who gave a presentation on the legal framework in the United States.

The participants’ future plans include meeting within the framework of Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes and strengthening their bilateral relations with the support of the International Office.