In Celebrating World Braille Day, “Abiyoso” Cimahi Realizes Rights Equality of Persons with Disabilities to Meet Literacy Needs

CIMAHI (January 4th, 2022) – Today, January 4th is celebrated as World Braille Day. This celebration is a form of appreciation for the founder of Braille Alphabet, Louis Braille.

World Braille Day Celebration becomes the moment to enhance the public awareness of the disability person, which is also bring the equality of rights for disability person in many aspects of life, in terms of literacy needs fulfillment.

Furthermore, all parties should be more aware to get rid of negative stigma in public and give a support to increase independence and to have equal rights like other people. 

To fulfill the rights of disability persons, including blind persons, the government through Ministry of Social Affairs develop Braille nationally from Technical Implementation Unit Kementerian Sosial Abiyoso Center in Cimahi, West Java.

Until now, ‘Abiyoso’ has become a management institution that has the function of being a national reference center and a Braille Literacy Laboratorium to improve the Social Welfare of Persons with Blind Disabilities (PDSN) in Indonesia.

“BLBI has some programs and activities. Including, printing, and publishing braille books, audiobooks, and the establishment of Braille Corner in the national library, province, regencies/city libraries, and universities,” said Isep Sepriyan, Head of BLBI Abiyoso, Cimahi, Tuesday (04/01).

Meanwhile, other activities such as mobile library, storytelling, book review whispering cinema; standardization of braille book production, Al Quran Braille recitation with Ministry of Religion Affairs: exhibition and publication; Technical Guidance program in Braille writing and information technology.

Other activities such as workshop about how to do internet marketing and a workshop on how to operate streaming radio; sharing sessions; monitoring and evaluation, public lectures; audio-mobile library development worked with Siloam South Korea; ATENSI Studio; and management Creative Center ATENSI (SKA).

The history of BLBI Abiyoso which was established on January 10th, 1952, by the Head of Blind Aware Community Mr. Heymen and H.A Malik Uddin by setting up Braille Library management in Bahasa Indonesia. In September 1st, 1952 H.A Malik Udin was appointed as The Head of Braille Indonesia Office by PPK Department (Ministry of Education and Culture).

On November 30th, 1961 based on Social Welfare Minister Decree number: 4-1-41/2330, the establishment of Publishing and Braille Library Indonesia (LPPBI) as a Technical Implementation Unit of Directorate of Child and Youth Welfare that located in Jalan Pajajaran 52 Bandung.  

Based on Ministry of Social Affairs Decree Number: 40/HUK/KEP/XI/1979 November 1st, 1979, about Position, Functional Duties, Organizational Structure and Work Procedures. LPPBI became Braille Publishing Indonesia Center (BPBI). In the end of 1989, BPBI moved to Jalan Kerkhof No.21 Leuwigajah, Cimahi Selatan.

“Because BPBI has its own office building, therefore the building at Jalan Pajajaran Number 52 became the Braille Library Building,” said Isep.

In 1994, it was changed to BPBI ‘Abiyoso’ and based on Ministry of Social Affairs Decree Number 18 2019, BPBI Abiyoso changed the name to Indonesia Braille Literacy Center (BLBI) ‘Abiyoso’ until now.

Any parties appreciated BLBI Abiyoso. In some time ago, Vice Chairman Commission VIII The House of Representatives, Ace Hasan Syadzily appreciated various products which resulted from BLBI Abiyoso Cimahi.

He said, BLBI Abiyoso has made a real move to build literacy. “All citizens must have equal access to education. I've seen the Qur’an printed here. Several books are also printed here. This is something amazing,” said Ace.

He hopes BLBI Abiyoso can continue to provide the best service for people with special needs. "I hope that BLBI Abiyoso will be at the forefront of services for those with special needs and persons with disabilities," he said.

Public Relation Bureau

Kementerian Sosial RI