UNS —The Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta is one of the campuses with a disability-friendly and non-discriminative policy. This was proved with the Inclusive Award from the Ministry of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) of the Republic of Indonesia in 2012. UNS is determined as one of the inclusive campuses in Indonesia. This award has encouraged UNS to increase its inclusivity toward academic members with special needs.
Prof. Dr. Munawir Yusuf, M.Psi., as a Professor in Inclusive Education Management in the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) UNS, states his opinion on this matter. According to him, inclusive higher education must provide equal room for people with disabilities in the admission process. “The implication for a university is that they need to provide a room for students with special needs to participate in the higher education admission selection process, and the university must provide an appropriate accommodation for the accepted student with a disability,” Prof. Munawir explains on Monday, (19/4/2021).
However, not all prospective students with disabilities can be accepted. Prof. Munawir states that students with special needs often realize their limitations. Thus, choosing not to continue their study and preferring to be entrepreneurs or work for others after graduating from high school. This condition often occurs with those with mental and intellectual disabilities. Meanwhile, those who dare to continue their study are usually are those who are not intellectually challenged even though they may be physically or sensory disabled such as visually impaired, deaf, and disabled. There are also autistic people, but not many of them continue their study too.
Based on his experiences, all students with special needs can be graduated even though they face numerous challenges. This shows that if disabled people are given the appropriate opportunity, they can finish their studies. Therefore, there is no need for doubt and hesitation in accepting disable students based on their talent, interest, and potential. Further, Prof. Munawir mentions that UNS establish itself as a disability-friendly campus with the various Decree provided by the Rector and Faculty Deans, which provide enough room for disable students.
“In FKIP, for instance, there is a Special Education Study Program (PKh). This study program consists of numerous disabled students. Moreover, FKIP had implemented an Inclusive Education course with 2 Credit Semester in all study programs since 2008. This course will prepare the prospective teachers to recognize the diversity in students with special needs and their classroom management within an inclusive class in regular school,” explains Prof. Munawir, who currently serves as the Head of Disability Study Center (PSD) in the Institute of Research and Community Service (LPPM) UNS.
This excellence is strengthened with the establishment of PSD LPPM UNS that focused on research, community service, and service reinforcement for students with disabilities. The development of UNS as an inclusive campus is supported with formal regulations established by the Rector of UNS, which respond to the rights of people with disabilities. These regulations are the Rector Decree No. 1150/2020 regarding the Requirements and Procedure for New Students Admission, which regulates the Independent Selection for Student with Disability (SMJD). The Rector Decree No. 21/2020 regarding New Student Admission for Bachelor Program under Independent Selection. The Rector Decree No. UNS Nomor 31/2020 regarding the Management of Bachelor Program stipulates the lecturers’ responsibility to consider and accommodate students’ special needs during the study process, limitation, and/or obstacles faced by students with disability (Article 13: 10). Assessment and evaluation for the student with special needs should be conducted flexibly by considering the limitation and obstacles they face (Article 28: 13). Lastly, there is the Rector Decree No. 32/2020 regarding the Implementation and Management of Diploma Program. All these regulations show UNS has prepared the fundamental policy to achieve an inclusive campus.
Until today there are 24 students with disabilities joining the education program in several faculties, while some others are already graduated. In 2020 SMJD, UNS admitted 13 students with special needs. Those students will study in the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science (FMIPA), Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD), Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Faculty of Agriculture (FP), Faculty of Sports (FKOR), Fakultas Hukum (FH), and Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).
Additionally, UNS has provided sufficient accommodations for students with special needs. For visually challenged students (blind) and deaf, the PSD LPPM UNS has prepared dozen of volunteers for sign language interpreters for the deaf and mobility orientation assistants for the blind. Not all students with disabilities are in need of assistance. All new students with disabilities will receive an orientation on the study process in UNS. For this objective, PSD LPPM UNS has trained students to assist students with disabilities.
Regarding the physical infrastructure, Prof. Munawir admits that not all buildings have supporting facilities for disabled people. Still, several establishments have supporting facilities such as a ramp for wheelchair users, special toilets, guiding blocks, and an elevator with a braille alphabet are available. Within the UNS campus, a pedestrian track is available, as well as special parking space in almost every faculty. Humas UNS
Reporter: Zalfaa Azalia Pursita
Editor: Dwi Hastuti