ICT Has a Great Role in Improving the Quality of Life for Children with Disabilities

JAKARTA (September 26, 2020) - The Director General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat said that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) or technology, communication and information plays a very important role in improving the quality of life of Children with Disabilities (PPE).

This was revealed by Harry in the Child Education and Consultation webinar "Impact of Gadget Use for Children and Students" organized by the Nurani Institute Indonesia. "In addition to being useful for developing PPE capabilities, technology can increase the participation of PPE in various aspects of life, so that an information barrier-free environment can be created," said Harry.

PPE is one of the vulnerable groups who also have special needs because they have physical, mental, intellectual or sensory limitations. "Even in the long term, interacting with the environment and people's attitudes can encounter obstacles that make it difficult to participate fully and effectively on the basis of equal rights," said Harry.

APD includes Children in Need of Special Protection (AMPK) in accordance with Law Number 35 of 2014 on Amendments to Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection. "The state must be present to ensure a systematic, planned and sustainable program related to the fulfillment of PPE rights," said Harry.

Utilization of ICT will make it easier for PPE in obtaining distance learning media who cannot access schools all the time, read digital or audio books and access the internet. ICT will also make it easier for PPE to communicate, for example blind PPE with a screen reader, speech deaf PPE with converter software voice text or sign language and so on.

Improving the language skills of PPE can also be done through ICT with images or symbols that can be converted into text so that it helps PPE to learn the concept of a word or language. The independence of PPE through ICT can be supported by the presence of mobile phone software that can help PPE know what time it is, show directions and so on.

Data from the 2018 Susenas stated that access to information for groups of people with disabilities in the use of cellphones or laptops was 34.89% while non-disabled people were 81.61%. Meanwhile, internet access for persons with disabilities is 8.50% while non-disabled people are 45.46%. This requires special attention because access to information is fundamental to the fulfillment of PPE rights.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has a policy of expanding the reach of family, community and residential-based Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI). "The fulfillment of PPE rights can be done through Child ATENSI in the form of activities to support the fulfillment of a decent life, child care, family support and psychological social therapy consisting of physical therapy, psychosocial therapy and spiritual mental therapy. accessibility support," said Harry.

Harry added, the Ministry of Social Affairs’s Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) working in the field of disability is ready to cooperate with Social Welfare Institutions (LKS) as representatives in the regions.

Commissioner of KPAI, Margaret Aliyatul Maimunah who was also present at this webinar said, "The use of gadgets in addition to having a positive impact also causes negative impacts through social media and online games that contain negative content, namely pornography, violence, and negative behavior such as radicalism, deviant behavior, gambling and etc. These can all lead to children being involved in crimes cyber."

On the other hand, the Deputy Secretary for Youth Development of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Amar Ahmad revealed data on the use of social media among millennial youth. "Based on data (2019), 70.4% of millennial youth see the latest information through social media, including economics and politics," said Amar.

Negative impact of using gadgets According to the Director of the Nurani Institute Indonesia, Nurhidaya, when children play games violent for just 20 minutes, they can numb the senses. "So, when a child commits violence against his friends or other people, there is no longer a sense of empathy. Therefore, if a child is addicted to gadgets, there must be an effort to divert activities, for example through sports and games that foster positive behavior changes," said Nurhidaya.

The Director of Child Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Kanya Eka Santi, in a question-and-answer session answered questions from an elementary school teacher about children with special needs who have learning difficulties. "When children with special needs experience problems in learning, the first thing that needs to be done is acceptance of the child. Furthermore, parents must also know the condition and needs of the child," explained Kanya.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has a program "Peksos Goes to School", where social workers will help children's social problems through collaboration with school committees and counseling teachers.

"During the Introduction to the School Environment (MPLS) for the new academic year 2020, we collaborated with several schools to fill out virtual material on Cyber ​​Bullying," said Kanya. The material is very complete and useful for school children, covering what and the impact and tips to avoid Cyber ​​Bullying, and received a very good response from students and teachers.