A cooperation protocol was signed between Selçuk University (SU), Selçuklu Municipality and Selçuklu Autistic Individuals Education (SOBE) Foundation in order to provide more effective education and rehabilitation services for individuals with autism.

Within the scope of the protocol, Selçuklu Municipality will ensure the allocation of space, fixtures, electrical, electronic, computer, network equipment and environmental equipment that will be needed by the Selçuk University Autism Application and Research Center for its activities at the SOBE Foundation. The protocol aims to raise autism awareness, organize informative training and seminars about autism for university students and faculty members, and support the professional development of students studying in autism-related departments of the university on autism.

Within the framework of the protocol, it is aimed to strengthen cooperation activities for special education and rehabilitation, provide instructor support, open programs to support professional development in the field of autism, organize events, seminars, courses, internships, meetings, conferences, workshops and congresses. Within the scope of the protocol, which includes cooperation in undergraduate and postgraduate theoretical and applied courses related to autism, cooperation in legal and administrative regulation studies in the field, the Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Diseases of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine and Selçuk University Autism Applied and Research Center will coordinate scientific research, declaration, publication preparation, education and rehabilitation and socio-cultural activities in cooperation with SOBE Foundation.

                 "WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE WORKS THAT BENEFIT THE SOCIETY"

Selçuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy said in his speech that as Selçuk University, they have been providing various supports to SOBE Foundation before the protocol.

Prof. Dr. Aksoy stated that they crowned these supports with the signed protocol and said: "We will continue our cooperation with SOBE Foundation and Selçuklu Municipality through Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Diseases and Selçuk University Autism Applied and Research Center. SOBE Foundation is the pioneer of social work. It acts with a completely civil initiative. One of the important steps of being a university here is to support projects that will contribute to society and to be an example in these projects. Selçuk University has also signed various protocols in this context. As a university, with this protocol, we will provide scientific and academic contributions to studies that will benefit the society. In this sense, we would like to express our happiness to cooperate in studies that benefit the society. Of course, as a university, we plan to support our SOBE Foundation in various counseling, training, conferences, seminars, and studies for families within the framework of cooperation with our Selçuklu Municipality. May it be auspicious for all of us."

  "I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL MAKE EXEMPLARY WORK IN THE FIELD OF AUTISM"

Ahmet Pekyatırmacı, Mayor of Selçuklu Municipality, stated that one of the most important social responsibility projects of Selçuklu Municipality is the Selçuklu Training Center for Individuals with Autism.

Noting that more than 100 students have continued their education and rehabilitation activities at the center in the last 3 years, Pekyatmacı said, “These activities of our center continue in the best possible way with the superior efforts of our SOBE Foundation. Hopefully, in the future, by establishing the Autism Application and Research Center together with Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine within our Selçuklu Autistic Individuals Training Center, we will give new strength and momentum to our center's work on autism. Today, SOBE is the most comprehensive training center for individuals with autism in Turkey. With the work we will do in the coming days, we will contribute to the physical development of our center with new educational buildings, workshops, and day care department in the 15 thousand square meter area right next to our center. As a result of the work we will do together with our university, research on autism and the identification and treatment of individuals with autism will be carried out in this center in a more efficient and accurate manner. I would like to thank Selçuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy for his contributions. Hopefully, we will have accomplished an exemplary study in the field of autism in Konya, as in every field in Tuürkiye. I hope it will be good.

                           “It makes us proud to work with a well-established university”

Selçuklu Autistic Individuals Education Foundation President Mustafa Ak stated that SOBE Foundation is an institution established on a voluntary basis in order to meet the needs of families and children in Türkiye in the field of autism. Stating that they have created an exemplary model as a university, municipality and non-governmental organization, Ak said: “We attach great importance to the creation of this model in addition to the services we provide. Because autism is an expensive education model due to the difficulties arising from one-on-one education. It is not possible for our families to afford this. Sustainability is important in this respect. Our SOBE Foundation has come to this day thanks to the efforts of many of our donors and supporters from home and abroad, especially from Konya. We thank those who gave their support. Especially the scientific support and contributions of our universities are very important to us. In this sense, we are excited and honored by the support that Selçuk University will provide in the future. We are proud that a well-established university will support our work. Together, we will continue to work on the problems of families in the field of autism and to work that can set an example for the country. We are trying to carry out this project with the support of the academy and the municipality. I hope it will be beneficial. After the speeches, Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy, Selçuklu Mayor Ahmet Pekyatırcı and SOBE Foundation President Mustafa Ak signed the cooperation protocol.

The protocol ceremony was attended by Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr.