Guaranteeing Rights of Disabled Persons

Indonesia is home to 21.84 million people with disabilities who are yet to enjoy their civil rights and are therefore unable to fully contribute to society.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Disabled barista Eko Sugeng prepares a cup of coffee at the Cupable Coffee cafe in the Yakkum Rehabilitation Center complex, Ngaglik district, Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Dec. 11 (11/12/2019). The cafe is also a training facility for people with disabilities who wish to become baristas. The training helps them remain productive and independent.

Indonesia has a sizable population of disabled persons at 8.56 percent of the population, according to the 2015 Inter-census Population Survey of Statistics Indonesia (BPS).

Law No. 8/2016 on disabled persons covers five types of disabilities: physical, mental, sensory, intellectual and multiple. The term “disabled persons” is used to define those people who experience obstructions in interacting with their surroundings over a prolonged period and difficulties in contributing fully and effectively as citizens under equal rights.

The Disabled Persons Law recognizes that a majority of people with disabilities is trapped in sedentary lives, is disadvantaged and/or live in poverty due to limitations, obstacles, and difficulties, as well as reduced rights.

In everyday life, we often observe and sense discrimination against people with disabilities, who are often subjected to stigmatization and stereotyping that hinder them from pursuing ordinary activities.

Even though the government has recognized their plight, and the behavior of businesses and the public towards disabled persons improving incrementally, this still falls short of meeting their needs.

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

Triyono, the founder of the transportation company Difa Bike, smiles while in front of his office in Yogyakarta on Wednesday (11/12/2019). Difa Bike is a motorcycle taxi company that hires people with disabilities as drivers. Besides empowering people with disabilities, Difa Bike also wants to provide safe and comfortable transportation for people with disabilities.

Due to their disabilities, this group of people has different needs than other members of the public. In terms of access to public services, for instance, few sidewalks are equipped with tactile guides for pedestrians with visual impairments and facilities for wheelchair users.

Similarly, only a handful of government offices and shopping malls have accessible facilities for disabled people.

Disabled people also cannot fully develop their potential due to the lack of accessible education facilities. This can deny them the opportunity to obtain basic and higher education, which will in turn deny them access to jobs that could help improve their lives. As a nation, we lose out on the potential of disabled persons to contribute to social and economic growth.

Much work remains for the government, especially provincial, regency and city administrations, to stop discrimination against people with disabilities. Among the most urgent matter is collecting aggregated population data that provide detailed information on the types of disabilities, age, address, education level, socioeconomic status and gender.

The aggregated data will provide a basis for the government to make policies that guarantee people with disabilities their rights so they can develop their potential.