21.10.2026 11:43
Duru Candansayar, 23, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 1 in Ankara, completed a double major at Başkent University in Public Relations and Publicity and Radio, Television and Cinema, despite 2 surgeries and intensive physical therapy that lasted until she was 20. Candansayar, who graduated third in her department in public relations, is preparing for the ALES to become an academic.
Duru Candansayar (23), who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 1 in Ankara, continued her education without interruption despite undergoing 2 surgeries and intensive physical therapy, and completed 2 departments by doing a double major at university. Candansayar, who aims to become an academic, is now preparing for the exam for a master's degree.
DIAGNOSED AT AGE 1, UNDERWENT 2 SURGERIES
Duru Candansayar, the first child of Yeliz and Alaettin Candansayar, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 1. Candansayar, who underwent two surgeries at ages 6.5 and 18, did not interrupt her education despite receiving intensive physical therapy until the age of 20. After primary and high school education, Duru Candansayar got into her first choice, Başkent University Department of Public Relations and Publicity, in the university exam she took in 2022. Thanks to her successful grade point average, Candansayar began a double major in the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema at the same university in 2023, and graduated as the third in the department from this department in 3 years and from the Department of Public Relations and Publicity in 4 years. Her current goal is to become an academic; Candansayar is improving her English and preparing for the Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Entrance Examination (ALES).
I LOVE COMMUNICATION
Duru Candansayar said that the Association of Children with Cerebral Palsy (SERÇEV) played an important role in her turning to the field of television and communication, and that she participated in television programs about cerebral palsy through the association. Candansayar said, 'Then I said, “I should be on television.” After studying at the National Education Foundation Rainbow Special Education Primary School, I completed the Television and Cinema Department at SERÇEV Barrier-Free Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School. Then I completed university. My reason for achieving these successes is my family. Because if they had not supported me, it would not have been like this. In fact, my mother and I have a video taken when I was 2 years old. There, because I loved talking very much, she said, “Maybe you should study radio, television and cinema or journalism or something.” I really love expressing myself and communicating.'
HER GOAL IS TO BECOME AN ACADEMIC
Candansayar stated that the field of public relations is closer to her, and said, 'I like theory. I like being at a desk and writing something on my computer for long hours. Therefore, the field of public relations is closer to me than radio, television and cinema. I want to become an academic. Especially if I can stay at my own university, I want to continue in the field of public relations. However, this does not mean that I am closed to the corporate field. If I have such an opportunity, I would also like to show myself in the corporate field. Right now, I am improving my English and preparing for ALES. Dreaming is freedom. When you dream, you realize what you want to do. If you are given that opportunity, you go step by step toward your dreams.'