All Types of Disabilities Must Be Accommodated: Presidential Special Staffer

Presidential Special Staff Angkie Yudistia receives a painting by Salisatul Hidayah, a person with a disability, at a workshop commemorating International Disability Day in Magelang, Central Java, Friday (13/11). (Photo by: Public Relations / Agung)

In commemoration of the 2020 International Disability Day, Presidential Special Staffer Angkie Yudistia on Friday (13/11) held a workshop with the theme “Disabilities Empowered in Entrepreneurship, Referring to Planning and Evaluation of the Rights of People with Disabilities” in Magelang, Central Java.

According to Angkie, the commemoration of the 2020 International Disability Day held under the theme “Not All Disabilities Are Visible” sends a message to everyone that not all types of disabilities can be realized and recognized by the general public.

Citing a report from the World Health Organization, Angkie said that 15 percent of the world’s population or more than 1 billion people are people with disabilities.

Of all these persons with disabilities, 450 million live with a mentally unhealthy condition; yet, they do not seek professional medical assistance due to the persistence of stigma, discrimination and rejection, she said.

“Therefore, it is important for us to spread a clear message to the public that all types of disabilities must be accommodated by everyone without exception, both physically visible and invisible,” she said.

On that occasion, she also called on civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector to forge a partnership with disability organizations in planning real activities and actions, whose benefits in the future can be felt by those with disabilities and their support system.

Following the hosting of the workshop in Magelang Regency, Angkie unveiled that this is a token of appreciation for many real programs carried out by the Magelang Regency Government in fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities.

One of the programs is the Family-Based Social Rehabilitation Program aimed at empowering persons with disabilities in terms of entrepreneurial abilities according to their potential and support systems.

This spirit of inclusiveness, she continued, must serve asn an example for other provinces and regencies / cities throughout Indonesia to realize President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s vision and mission, namely realizing an advanced Indonesia in 2045.

“Through the spirit of inclusiveness, the actual programs will be directed towards respecting and fulfilling the rights of people with disabilities which have an impact on increasing the productivity of people with disabilities,” she said.

For the record, the Government has issued Law Number 8 of 2016 on people with disabilities which guarantees the fulfillment of the rights of people with disabilities in all aspects of life, such as education, health, work, politics and government, culture, and tourism as well as the use of information and communication technology, she added.

The workshop is the third held by Angkie in commemoration of the 2020 International Disability Day which falls on 3 December every year. This time, the workshop’s big theme is “Advanced Indonesia, Inclusive Indonesia”. (TGH / UN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas