JAKARTA (2 October 2023) – Ministry of Social Affairs is strongly committed to strengthening support for persons with disabilities.  This is in line with the spirit of ASEAN High Level Forum (AHLF) on Disability-Inclusive Development and Partnership beyond 2025, which will be held on 10-12 October 2023 in Makassar.

On various occasions, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini emphasized that AHLF moment would uphold the spirit of support of ASEAN countries towards persons with disabilities.  "No one left behind, including those with disabilities," she said.

As concrete evidence, Ministry of Social Affairs has developed innovations for various assistive devices for persons with disabilities.  Among the latest innovations are Bracelet for the Perons with Hearing and Speech Disabilities (GRUWI) and Bracelet for Perons with Intellectual Disabilities (GRITA).  There are also adaptive canes that have been patented by Ministry of Social Affairs.

GRUWI was launched by Minister of Social Affairs as an effort to fulfill the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as a response to security threats faced by persons with hearing and speech disabilities.  This bracelet is triggered by a motion sensor and is equipped with a pulse detector.  If the user is in an emergency or panic situation so that the pulse rate suddenly becomes high, this bracelet will sound to attract the attention of other people so that crimes against persons with hearing and speech disabilities and intellectual disabilities can be prevented.

 "Ministry of Social Affairs' innovation comes from my anxiety that I often find cases of coercion that often affect children with hearing and speech disabilities," said Minister Risma.

GRUWI, GRITA, and adaptive canes are the result of innovation by disability teams fostered at social service centers of Ministry of Social Affairs.  This tool functions as an early warning system for persons with disabilities, either hearing, speech, or intellectual disabilities, if there is a threat that could endanger them from outside.

"Up to this day, the production of GRUWI is about 217 units and GRITA is 100 units.  "Of this amount, 65 units GRUWI have been distributed, but for GRITA is not yet," said Head of Inten Soeweno Integrated Center (STIS) Bogor, MO.  Royani.

Ministry of Social Affairs' innovation was successful because persons with disabilities felt the benefits, which can be seen from the high number of waiting lists for requests or preparations for delivery to Social Welfare Service for Persons in Needs, GRUWI for 75 units and GRITA for 90 units.

ASEAN High Level Forum (AHLF) on Disability-Inclusive Development and Partnership beyond 2025 event will be attended by 200 delegates from ASEAN Sector Bodies, ASEAN affiliated organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, ASEAN dialogue partners, as well as academics in Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province.