Social Affairs Minister Becomes an Inspiration for Higher Education to Provide Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

The seminar with the theme "Together Accompanying Diffable" started from UKDC's real program to practice the entrepreneurial skills of people with disabilities. At the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs, UKDC activities have the support of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"Thank you to the Chancellor and the entire academic community of Darma Cendika Catholic University. Now, what we have to do is facilitate them with technology and explore their potential," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

The Minister of Social Affairs appreciated UKDC's efforts to carry out community service in the form of assistance to people with disabilities. As a result, the ability of entrepreneurs, they are growing rapidly and they can produce works according to their respective abilities.

The community service that has been running for 1 year was initiated because of the Minister’s optimism about the abilities of people with disabilities which was conveyed on several occasions. This optimism is an inspiration for the academic community to assist people with disabilities.

On this occasion, the Minister of Social Affairs shared her experience in providing support and strengthening for persons with disabilities. Starting from meeting the needs of assistive devices with a touch of innovation in the form of electric wheelchairs, wheelchairs for Cerebral Palsy, adaptive sticks for the blinds, and three-wheeled motors for doing business.

In developing this innovative work, the Ministry of Social Affairs always involves the role of persons with disabilities. "This is in line with the mandate of Law No. 8 of 2016 that people with disabilities have the right to work and do entrepreneurship in the government and private sector," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

In front of the UKDC leadership and academic community, the Minister of Social Affairs also expressed her experience of watching people with disabilities who are good at making batik with their feet. And the batik sold at a fantastic price, reaching double digits.

"That's why I believe, people with disabilities have cognitive abilities behind their limitations," he said.

In addition, there is also the figure of Gading, a teenager from Kajen, Pekalongan who continues to develop his business after getting a three-wheeled motorbike from the Ministry of Social Affairs. The Minister of Social Affairs shared the success story of Gading, who in less than a year could have savings of more than Rp. 20 million.

UKDC Chancellor Adrian Adirejo also spoke up. "We are grateful and proud because we have a real work, where we assist these people with disabilities and contribute to society. It is important to learn from experience so that we can assist them to become entrepreneurs," he said.

At the same place, Stefan Prabani one of the lecturers who does community service has proven that people with disabilities have a lot of potential.

The Bending Triplek Community consists of 5 persons with disabilities in Surabaya and 11 in Semarang who were successfully assisted in producing chair and table furniture.

"We are looking for alternatives to how they can make chairs and tables but with different materials, and shapes, in a very easy way. It turns out, they are very capable, the results are extraordinary," he said amazed.

Prabani hopes that this community will continue to grow in regions throughout Indonesia and will continue to receive support from the government.

Community service is a real effort by the UKDC campus to encourage people with disabilities to prove their ability to produce something useful, good, aesthetic, and functional.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs