IDF 2019: Providing Equal Stage for People with Disabilities

Imagine Plenary session, themed Inclusive Jobs.

 

Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) 2019 serves as a forum for people with disabilities to contribute to thinking of policies, presenting ideas, and demonstrating their role and productivity, in inclusive development. Held on July 22-23 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), IDF 2019 invited a large number of people with disabilities with different types of disability and from the Disabled People’s Organizations (DPO).

Angkie Yudistia, CEO of Thisable Enterprise, in the Imagine Plenary session, themed Inclusive Jobs, said that Thisable has been working to empower people with disabilities for eight years. Thisable Enterprise is a social enterprise established since 2011, with a mission to financially empower people with disabilities in Indonesia in the world of employment. 

“We conduct training according to market needs,” she said.

According to her, people with disabilities can be empowered by way of suitable job placement. 

“For example, our friends who are hard of hearing can be empowered as admins,” she added. 

She also underlined the importance of vocational education in empowering people with disabilities and equip them with skills. Vocational training is also provided to shelters established by the Ministry of Social Affairs. This was conveyed by the Director-General of Social Rehabilitation, Edi Suharto, in the same session.  

Similarly, Ajiwan A. Hendradi, Media Staff of Inclusive Space and Disability Advocacy Initiative or Sasana Inklusi dan Gerakan Advokasi Difabel (SIGAB) also emphasised that people with disabilities want inclusiveness, not to be treated differently. 

“The vision-impaired do not need to be given special treatment. We just want inclusive empowerment,” he said as a speaker in the INSPIRE session on Creating Inclusive Employment Opportunities. 

During the same session, there was also Putri Santoso, CEO of Sampaguita Foundation and Co-founder of Kopi Tuli (KopTul).  

“The main purpose of establishing KopTul is to bridge the sign language community and empower the deaf,” she said. 

In KopTul, Putri explained, the deaf has proven to be able to work as cashiers, and communicate with customers. Putri established Kopi Tuli from her personal experience of having difficulty to obtain a job due to her disability. 

“Employers focusing on the limitations of the deaf will lose a golden opportunity,” continued Putri, who now has established two Kopi Tuli branches, namely in Depok, West Java, and Duren Tiga, Jakarta. 

“Our vision is to create a forum for people with disabilities in Indonesia, especially those who are deaf and hard of hearing,” said Putri in the INSPIRE session on Creating Inclusive Employment Opportunities. 

On the Ideas and Innovations Marketplace - Connecting for Scaling Up session, Eva Rahmi Kasim provided a reminder that many social enterprises have only made people with disabilities as assistants, not as main actors. This hinders their empowerment. 

“This empowerment must include product training, marketing, and training so that they can fully assist their fellow disabled friends,” she said.  

Still related to job opportunities for people with disabilities, also present was Rubby Emir, CEO of Kerjabilitas.com. Kerjabilitas is a platform that helps disabilities to obtain good jobs. Kerjabilitas also provides training to build the capacity of workers, both online and offline.

According to Rubby Emir, two of 10 companies know about disabilities, and one of two companies that know about disabilities agree to recruit people with disabilities. 

“The remaining nine companies are still reluctant to hire people with disabilities,” he continued. 

They claim to still prioritise non-disability workers and are looking for people who are not sick and can be mobile. 

“Another reason is the office is not accessible yet or they are not ready to accept people with disabilities,” he said.

In this case, Kerjabilitas tries to promote and advocate companies to provide equal opportunities for workers with disabilities. Some of the ways include helping to audit the accessibility of their workplace, and assisting companies to conduct recruitment.  

“We also provide training so that non-disability people can interact with people with disabilities in the workplace,” Rubby continued. 

According to Rubby, companies do not need to make vacancies with special criteria. 

“Companies do not need to change their criteria. They just need to conduct affirmative action, namely every vacancy can provide impact for people who need it more, in this case, are people with disabilities,” he added. 

IDF 2019 also brought in international speakers on disability. Jo Verrent, Senior Producer of UK Unlimited shared the story of UK Unlimited, which has 280 artists with disabilities, who now have careers as artists. He also conveys his appreciation to Indonesia for its efforts to develop inclusiveness for people with disability.  

"The speed at which the development in Indonesia empowers people with disabilities is amazing. How the government is focusing on inclusion is extraordinary. I really appreciate what you are doing here,” said Verrent. 

Another woman has been crowned a hero for people with disabilities in Semarang. Noviana Dibyantari, who is also the founder of Komunitas Sahabat Difabel, shares her story on how she empowers people with disabilities into sophisticated people.  

"My disabled friends always say ‘we do not need pity, but give us a chance’. So for parents, let’s give them a chance,” said Noviana Dibyantari, speaking in the Ideas and Innovations Marketplace - Capturing and Sharing Knowledge session. 

Based on Population Survey Census 2015, the number of people with disabilities is 8.56 per cent of the total population. Based on the National Workforce Survey (Sakernas) 2017, the national working-age people with disabilities are 21.9 million people. From this number, those included in the workforce are over 11.2 million people or 51.18 per cent. 

The contribution of people with disabilities is critical in providing inputs to policy formulation on equal opportunities for people with disabilities. This is in line with the theme of IDF 2019, Mission Possible: Seizing the Opportunities for Future Work to Drive Inclusive Growth. Let’s head towards an inclusive Indonesia!