Inclusive urban spaces: A policy analysis of local government and civil society efforts toward cultural and artistic accessibility for disabled people

This study examines the access of disabled individuals to cultural and artistic services in urban spaces from a public administration perspective, specifically focusing on local governments and civil society organizations in Turkey. The research aims to shift the discourse on cultural participation from a traditional "charity-oriented" focus to a "rights-based" and "inclusive city" paradigm. Utilizing a qualitative research design and document analysis, the strategic plans, activity reports, and institutional bulletins of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Kocaeli, and Kayseri metropolitan municipalities for the 2023-2026 period were thematically analyzed. Findings indicate a quantitative increase in physical and content-based accessibility practices (e.g., audio descriptions, sensory-friendly sessions); however, these services are predominantly concentrated in isolated disability centers rather than mainstream urban cultural nodes, posing a risk of "spatial segregation." The study highlights the transformative role of participatory governance and civil society initiatives in evolving disabled individuals from passive recipients to active cultural producers. The article concludes with strategic public policy recommendations emphasizing the "mainstreaming" of accessibility in local policy processes and the professionalization of cultural management curricula through the lens of universal design.