UNS — Disability Study Center (PSD) Institute for Research and Community Services (LPPM) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, in collaboration with Undergraduate and Master Program in Special Education FKIP UNSP, and APPKhI, held the Training for UNS Disability Assistant Volunteers. The training was opened by Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs UNS, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ahmad Yunus, M.S., offline under a strict health protocol on Wednesday (2/2/20222) in Building F Hall FKIP UNS. The training was attended by students who are interested in becoming volunteers for assistants for UNS students with disabilities.
The Chairman of PSD LPPM UNS and Chairman of the Association for Indonesia Special Education Professionals (APPKhI), Prof. Dr. Munawir Yusuf, M.Psi, stated that collective works are needed to achieve an inclusive campus. “This is our task to meet the need for accessibilities and inclusiveness,” Prof. Munawir stated.
Further, Prof. Munawir explained that currently, UNS needs many volunteers to assist students with disabilities in UNS. He also stated that UNS Rector’s policy to provide opportunities for new students with disabilities through a special track in the last three years had received positive responses from the community members. There are inclusive regulations in UNS, for example, Rector Decree Number 21/2020 regarding New Students Admission through Disabilities Track and Rector Decree Number 31/2020 regarding Administering and Managing Undergraduate Programs. These regulations explain the rights of students with disabilities in participating the academic and non-academic activities with larger flexibility considering their limitations.
In the second opening remark, the Dean of FKIP UNS, Dr. Mardiyana, M.Si., emphasized the inclusiveness aspect in the campus environment. “In accreditation, the questions around inclusiveness are often asked. In some universities abroad, large attentions are provided for disabilities,” Dr. Mardiyana stated.
In the program explanation, Prof. Munawir stated that as an inclusive and disabilities-friendly campus, UNS tries to improve its services for students with disabilities. Therefore, volunteers for assisting students with disabilities are needed. Currently, 34 students with disabilities are recorded in UNS in the class of 2019, 2020, and 2021 from almost all faculties in UNS. These students have eye-related disabilities (11 students), hearing-related disabilities (15 students), and physical-related disabilities (eight students), studying in the Faculty of Law (FH), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science (FMIPA), Faculty of Engineering (FT), Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Faculty of Cultural Studies (FIB), Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD), Faculty of Sports (FKOR), Faculty of Agriculture (FP), and Faculty of Medical Science (FK).
The assistance provided for the students with disabilities started from new student admission, offline and online learning process, practice, student activities, Student Community Service Program (KKN), and preparation of the undergraduate thesis or final assignment. The assistance will be provided by trained students. The current training is Batch 3 training, participated by 20 students in a sign language class and 20 students in the mobility orientation class. The training was provided in 90 hours pattern with the In-On-In method, students joined 40 hours of offline teaching, 47 hours On the Job Learning, and In-2 activities equal to three hours of the course to report the result of practices concluded with an examination.
Students who complete the training received a certificate and could recognize the training as two credits a semester in Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program, equal to two credits in sign language and two credits in mobility and orientation. Students who complete the training will also take a role in assisting students with disabilities in various faculties.
“We hope students as disabilities assistant could be recognized as course assistance program as an appreciation for the volunteers,” Prof. Munawir stated.
The training will also be open for faculty members and academic staff. PSD LPPM UNS actively supports students with disabilities in UNS through various programs, such as learning assistance for two semesters in 2021/2022 and assistance in winning a scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek).
“Almost all students with disabilities in UNS also received facilities to win a scholarship from Kemendikbudristek and other sources,” Prof. Munawir added. Humas UNS
Reporter: Zalfaa Azalia Pursita
Editor: Dwi Hastuti