Grace P. Batubara: Early Age Education Overcomes Discrimination on Person with Disabilities

Grace P. Batubara: Early Age Education Overcomes Discrimination on Person with Disabilities
Writer :
Koesworo Setiawan
Translator :
Yusuf Andika; Karlina Irsalyana

JAKARTA (December 2, 2019) – The Advisor of Dharma Wanita Association of the MoSA Grace Claudia P. Batubara believed that early age education for children became the key to erase the discrimination toward persons with disabilities. Early age education considered to be effective on embed the positive value for children.

“Since a kid, we need to give them a perspective that person with disability is a person which has the same right and responsibility with us. If we give that to them since at young age, it will hope that there is no discrimination after they are grown up,” Grace P. Batubara said during the breaks on her visitation to International Disability Day of 2019 Exhibition arena, in West Plaza Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (2/12/2019).

Wife of the Social Affairs Minister Juliari P. Batubara was attended on her capability of representing the Solidarity Era Organization – Indonesia Onward Cabinet (OASE – KIM) on Social Affairs. Grace visited a number of booths and talked to the exhibition’s participant. The product and handicrafts were made by persons with disabilities.

Grace delivered her appreciation due to their limitation, they could make a great creation. “Once I visit the center in Bali. There are many cafés which been managed by persons with disabilities. It could attract many customer’ attention. This means that their creation is approved by the people,” Grace said.

In the future, Grace hoped that the creation and participation space for persons with disabilities could be strengthened. Such like the handicraft from this exhibition’s participants, it needed to be connected with a larger market. Thus, for the long-term effects, it could improve the economic independence.

“There are some problems. Such as when I ask to some booths, are they have sold it by online?  Because now is digital era. I see many handicrafts in there, are good and unique. So, if this can be well-marketed, it can increase their income,” Grace said.

Moreover, Grace asked to every stakeholder to support the government’s work which pushed the Indonesia Inclusive program for persons with disabilities. One of them related to equality in receiving the work opportunity.

“I hope that both government and private institution can provide an opportunity toward persons with disabilities to get work. If I’m not wrong, for the private company has been set on 1%. Meanwhile the government is on 2%. I think that this needs to be realized,” she said.

Grace was accompanied with Oom Komariah Edy Suharto and the Director of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities Margowiyono, and also with the Dharma wanita association’s member of the MoSA. In this exhibition, there were total of 60 booths consisted of 26 booths of outsource, 6 booths from the banks which been involved persons with disabilities as the employee, 16 booths from Technical Implementation Unit of Disability Center. Then, there was also booths from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry, Directorate of Immigration, and the company who supported the persons with disabilities’ empowerment.


Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau
The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs
Sonny W Manalu

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