16.10.2026 11:03
Yaşar Karaduman, 52, who was born with osteogenesis imperfecta in Izmir, has been relaying calls to teams as a switchboard operator in the Tire Fire Brigade Group for 24 years. Karaduman, known as '110 Yaşar' because he is 110 centimeters tall and the old fire emergency hotline was also 110, called on families, saying 'Educate your disabled children, do not be ashamed of them.'
Yaşar Karaduman, 52, who was born in İzmir with glass bone disease and is known as "110 Yaşar," has been working as a switchboard operator in the fire department for 24 years.
According to a statement from İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Karaduman, whose bones are fragile due to osteogenesis imperfecta, known among the public as "glass bone disease," held on to life during his childhood with his family's support and treatments.
Karaduman, who works at the Tire Fire Group, started working as a worker at Tire Municipality in 2000. In 2002, Yaşar Karaduman passed the exam for people with disabilities and was assigned to the fire department.
BOTH HIS HEIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY LINE WERE 110
Karaduman, who is 110 centimeters tall, began to be called "110 Yaşar," inspired by the 110 fire emergency line used at the time.
Karaduman, whose views were included in the statement, said, "At that time, the fire department's emergency line was 110; there was no 112. My height was also 110 centimeters. They called me '110 Yaşar.' I became known by this name everywhere."
EDUCATE YOUR DISABLED CHILDREN
Karaduman, who relays calls to the relevant teams in his role and contributes to coordination, stated that he wanted to work in the field and help people.
Karaduman, who recounted that his family sold their home for his treatment during his childhood and that his mother carried him in her arms to and from school, said that individuals with disabilities should not be kept away from education and social life.
Stating that firefighting has a special meaning for him, Karaduman said, "I relay incoming calls to the relevant teams without wasting time. Here too, coordination and racing against time are at stake. I try to do my job in the best way possible. Educate your disabled child. Send them to courses where they can improve themselves. Families should not be ashamed of their children; they should stand by them. We are not people to be ashamed of. Teach us not to eat fish, but to catch fish."