UNS — Indonesia is known as one of the largest laboratories for disability studies in Southeast Asia. This predicate is derived from the country’s large population and potential. Indonesia is also known to have a complete set of laws or regulations regarding disability. However, the regulation remains at an abstraction stage, not yet translated into concrete implementable steps, where research with a disability perspective remains low. This condition prompted the Center for Difability Studies (PSD), Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) to host a discussion on research with a disability perspective.
The discussion entitled “Mapping Research Needs for Development Policies with a Disability Perspective” was held virtually on Tuesday (18/1/2022) through the Zoom Cloud Meeting application. This discussion invited two disability experts; the first is Prof. Dr. Tri Nuke Pudjiastuti, MA, from MOST-UNESCO and the National Research and Innovation Agency. And Dra. Y. Anni Aryani, M.Prof.Acc., Ph.D., Ak., CA., CSRS., CSRA., a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UNS, who is also a wheelchair user.
Regarding research with a disability perspective, Prof. Nuke admits that there has not been much research using this perspective. This condition is affected by many factors, such as communities’ paradigm on persons with disabilities. “Research with a disability perspective remains a big challenge for research institutions and universities to provide support for the protection and fulfillment of rights for persons with disabilities,” she said.
Prof. Nuke added that currently, there are several pieces of research using disability perspective but only in terms of technology. Meanwhile, on the social side, persons with disabilities have not been much involved because they have only been considered a variable so far.
Additionally, Prof. Nuke also said that academics and researchers in Indonesia still dichotomize the research paradigm into basic research and applied research. This dichotomization results in a lack of applied research that departs from social issues of policy implementation for persons with disabilities. For this reason, there is still not much research that has become a basis for policymaking concerning persons with disabilities’ perspectives.
On the other hand, Dr. Anni views that the data available on persons with disabilities in Indonesia is not valid, thus, there has not been much research examining this field. According to Dr. Anni, the available data differs in each agency. Hence, researchers do not know which data are indeed valid. “Data on disability must be completely valid. So far, I cannot obtain the correct data because the data obtained from various sources are different. The data must be validated, thus, it can open up many research opportunities,” she added.
Dr. Anni as a person with a disability, also said that a lot of infrastructure for people with disabilities in Indonesia is often abused. This condition could happen due to the fact that not many Indonesians are aware of the function of these facilities.
At the end of the session, the two invited presenters hoped that there would be more research with a disability perspective. Significant attention given to people with disabilities can encourage the government to create sustainable, inclusive services for all vulnerable groups, especially people with disabilities. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti