Commission VIII of the House of Representative Fully Supports MoSA on the Fulfilment of PwDs Rights

Bandung Regency (January 9^th, 2022) – Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini and Deputy Chairperson of Commission VIII of the House of Representative of Republic Indonesia, Ace Hasan Syadzily, present at the launching of “Indonesia Hears” program in Al-Hayu Baleendah Sports Center in Bandung. Indonesia Hears Program is one of the government’s efforts to provide accessibility for persons with disabilities, particularly persons with visual sensory disabilities, and persons with speech and hearing disabilities.

The program initiated by Ministry of Social Affairs is aimed to provide information and communication access for persons with disabilities and also therapy for persons with disabilities to maximize their body function.

“This is Ministry of Social Affairs’ effort to provide access for the persons with disabilities. A smartphone equipped with an application which is able to automatically write based on the voice heard by the phone is given to them,” Minister of Social Affairs said while launching Indonesia Hears Program on January 8^th.

The Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives of Republic of Indonesia, Yandri Susanto in Serang also presents at the launching of Indonesia Hears Program which is also held online and offline simultaneously in some areas. The Vice Chairperson of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Diah Pitaloka is seen present at the launching held in Integrated Center Inten Soeweno in Bogor.

“I’m in Serang. It’s so crowded here. I’ve distributed social assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs. There are motorcycles, hearing aids, and many others. Ministry of Social Affairs is awesome. Thank you so much, Mrs. Minister,” Yandri says while attending the event online.

The other members of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives who were also present to witness the launching of Indonesia Hears Program are Idah Syahidah Rusli Habibie in Gorontalo, Kesuma Kelakan in Bali, Muhammad Saleh in Bengkulu, Nanang Samodra in Mataram, Matindas J. Rumambi in Palu, Surahman Hidayat in Sukabumi, Muslich Zainal Abidin in Temanggung, Muhammad Rizal in Jakarta, Nur Azizah Tamhid in Bekasi, Wastam di Purwokerto, and Hasan Basri Agus in Jambi.

In Indonesia Hears Program, Ministry of Social Affairs through Integrated Center, Center, and Training Center prepares 262 accessibility assistance for persons with hearing and speech disabilities, consisting of hearing aids, talking phones/smartphones equipped with automatic transcript applications, tables, and talking laptops equipped with Jaws application and whistles.

In addition, Ministry of Social Affairs also distributes 456 tools and equipment in the form of adaptive walking sticks, smart sticks, wheelchairs, kids’ wheelchairs, crutches, tripod sticks, prosthetic legs, entrepreneurship assistance, 2 in-one wheelchairs, laptops, printers, tablet, cellular phone repairment tools, and also three-wheeled motorcycles. The accessibility assistance is accepted by a total of 718 beneficiaries.

Minister Risma hopes that by using aids, persons with disabilities can be independent. “Later, they can improve their access to productive activities, and improve their financial capacity,” she said.

On the same occasion, Ace Hasan stated that Indonesia Hears Program launched by Ministry of Social Affairs is a positive breakthrough. “Because not every group of persons with disabilities have access to aid. With the Program, the access can be better now,” Ace said.

Not only that, Ace also hopes that the Ministry of Social Affairs will continue to help persons with disabilities build their independence through another program.

“We hope there will be programs like Indonesia Sees, Indonesia Walks, not only Indonesia Hears. Thus, physical limitation owned by a group of persons with disabilities will be able to optimize their function, so that they can be empowered, and they can build their independence,” Ace said.