Gov’t Ensures Persons with Disabilities’ Rights to Education
: A workshop which adopted a theme “Developing Characters of Children with Disabilities through Inclusive Education”. (Photo by: PR/Jay)
The Government ensures the fulfillment of the rights of disability in all aspects including the rights to education, Presidential Special Staffer Angkie Yudistia said.
“One of rights of persons with disabilities is access to quality education in all systems, levels, both inclusive and exclusive educations. Persons with disabilities have the equal opportunity to become education administrators, lecturers, teachers, and students,” Angkie said in a workshop which adopted a theme “Developing Characters of Children with Disabilities through Inclusive Education”, on Monday (9/11), in Yogyakarta.
She called on educational institutions to make some modifications and adjustments of their services to meet the needs of students with disabilities and to provide fair education services for all.
“In providing suitable accommodation for persons with disabilities, Central Government and regional governments are obliged to facilitate the establishment of Services Unit for Persons with Disabilities,” she said.
She went on to say that the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that about 15 percent of the world’s population, or an estimated 1 billion people live with some form of disability. Meanwhile, 450 million people suffer from a mental disorder which many of them do not seek professional help due to the stigma, discrimination, and rejection.
“I invite organization, academic institution, and private sector to have partnership with organizations for persons with disabilities to take concrete action which can bring benefits for the disabled,” Angkie stated.
In the meantime, Gusti Kanjeng Bendara Raden Ayu Adipati Paku Alam (GBRAy) who was also a speaker in the workshop said that the Provincial Government of Yogyakarta has issued a regulation on protection and fulfillment of the rights of persons with disabilities.
“In 2012, the Provincial Government issued Regional Regulation Number 4 on protection and fulfillment of the rights of persons with disabilities. The Regulation guarantees that persons with disabilities have equal rights and responsibilities to access education in any way, system, and level that is provided by regional governments, regencies/cities governments, and/or the community,” she said adding that inclusive education means all students have the same role, regardless of their social, political, economic backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, genders, and physical and mental conditions.
Empowerment for the disabled, she added, is not only made through formal education but also through trainings that improve their potentials, particularly that are related with Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
In the Province alone, there are several business groups who involved the disabled. The groups gain the benefits from trainings given to the disabled, for example disabled group in Moyudan, Sleman Regency and in Nglipar, Gunungkidul Regency, which experienced an increase in the sales volume due to digital marketing training.
For the record, the workshop is held in the series of International Day of Disabled Persons that is celebrated on 3 December. In the series, three workshops adopting a theme “Advanced Indonesia, Inclusive Indonesia” will be held in Yogyakarta and Magelang, Central Java.
On today’s event, it featured a number of speakers, among others Erbe Sentanu (Founder of Katahati Institute), Subari (Founder of SLB YPCM Boyolali), Fransiska Rina Wigati (Headmaster of Hellen Keller School Yogyakarta), Sri Rejeki Ekasasi form the Association of Parents of Children with Down Syndrome in Yogyakarta. (DNS/UN)
Translated by: Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Muhardi
