History

1972 – 1989

The Spastic Children’s Foundation of Turkey - Cerebral Palsy Turkey was established in 1989. Its foundations were laid much earlier in 1972 when Prof. Hıfzı Özcan formed the Spastic Children’s Society of Turkey in a modest building in Kadıköy. Up to that date Cerebral Palsy (CP) was generally treated in an unorganized way with no scientific studies under way. The Society drew attention to Cerebral Palsy. The first step was to bring together the families of the growing number of children with Cerebral Palsy receiving treatment at the pediatric neurology departments of various hospitals. A brochure about “Who is called spastic?” was published to inform families about Cerebral Palsy and its types.

Increasing its activities with the cooperation of families and a group of supporters who believed in the importance of their cause, in 1976 the Society decided to request help from the Sabancı Family. Akbank T.A.Ş. purchased a villa in Acıbadem, Kadıköy and Hacı Ömer Sabancı Foundation allocated the building to the Society. After moving to the building named Erol Sabancı Spastic Children Center, the Society signed a protocol with the Social Services Department of the Ministry of Health and started to receive personnel support from the state.