UNS — Four students from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta initiated Ruang Indonesia Bercerita (RIB) Community. These students are Naufal Allam Gumelar, Maulana Danar Maaliki H., Ryan Anggara, and Aprilia Rizki Arifah from Indonesian Language and Literature Education Program (PBSI), and Yoga Pradana from Prodi S-1 Pendidikan Luar Biasa (PLB) UNS, Yoga Pradana.
One of the initiators, Maulana Danar Maaliki H., stated that RIB is a literacy community that aims to welcome talents, aspirations, and expressions from people with disabilities in Indonesia. RIB is committed to continuing to develop the invocation and creation from people with disabilities to achieve inclusive Indonesia. “RIB is established to develop the innovation and creation from people with disabilities and to support them into a more independent individual. RIB is a place that welcomes Children with Special Needs (ABK) in Indonesia to tell stories and express themselves freely,” Danar stated on Monday (14/2/2022).
RIB was established as the reflection of Language and Literature Week (PBS), an annual event from PBSI UNS. PBS sparks the idea to provide a place for children with special needs through literary-based activities. Currently, RIB targets students in elementary school, junior high school, senior high school, and other equivalent educational institutions.
The objectives of RIB are to change negative stigma in the community against children with special needs and to support children with special needs to express and develop their potential in literary works. Currently, RIB has an event, Arcadia, with a theme on “Smile Together,” held for students of Special Education School (SLB) in Sukoharjo that was broadcasted at the end of February 2022.
Through its social media platform, RIB shared inspirational stories and information surrounding children with special needs. Further information on RIB could be accessed in Instagram account @ruangberceritaind, TikTok: @ruangberceritaind, Facebook: ruangberceritaind, Twitter: RIBercerita, Youtube: Ruang Indonesia Bercerita, email: ri.bercerita@gmail.com, and website: ruangindonesiabercerita.com.
“Hopefully, RIB could continue, creating, and bring benefits for people. Hopefully, RIB could bring new perspectives in viewing children with special needs under normal perspective. Besides encouraging children with special needs to express themselves like children in general,” Danar concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Lina Khoirun Nisa
Editor: Dwi Hastuti