Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities in the City of Tangerang
USAID MADANI works with Yayasan Difable Mandiri Indonesia (YDMI / the Indonesian Disability Self-Reliant Foundation) to support an inclusive development approach in the City of Tangerang. PWD face a bevy of education-related challenges in Tangerang, including teachers that lack the training to serve students with disabilities, a limited number of special tutors, and a dearth of learning materials for special needs students.
YDMI was established in 2013 to implement social assistance programs at the local level. MADANI has provided technical assistance to YDMI for two years, transforming them into a formidable civil society organization (CSO). YDMI is comprised of a qualified team of professionals with a deep knowledge of the local development challenges facing PWD, women, the elderly, and low-income youth. With this increased legitimacy, YDMI has become a fierce advocate for equality and the rights of disadvantaged groups. In addition, YDMI has built strong relationships with the Tangerang Government, as well as with key personnel in the frontline service industry, education system, and local legislative body.
Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities in the City of Tangerang
In the past year, YDMI’s collaborative approach has resulted in the enactment of new policies, programs, and budgets, as well as an increased understanding of PWD issues within the Tangerang Government. These achievements came from a multistakeholder advocacy effort spearheaded by YDMI, where local CSO partners participated in public hearings, planning consultations for the Regional Mid-Term Development Plan, and regulation drafting sessions. Furthermore, MADANI and YDMI have employed this collaborative approach via the Forum Solidaritas Masyarakat Inklusif (FORMASI), a multistakeholder effort that brings together government agencies, academia, the private sector, and other local CSOs to address issues of inclusive development.
As a result of this advocacy, the Tangerang Government enacted a local regulation on the implementation of primary education, which includes a section guaranteeing access for children with disabilities and opening job opportunities for civil servants with disabilities. In addition, FORMASI’s efforts pushed the city to double its 2022 basic education budget compared to the previous year. This new budget includes resources to improve wheelchair accessibility (e.g., ramps, entrances, and restroom accommodations), among other upgrades, affording children with disabilities the opportunity to receive an inclusive education in public schools.
Moving forward, YDMI will continue to work closely with key stakeholders to create more opportunities for PWD, including education on entrepreneurship, increasing scholarship recipients, and engaging the private sector to expand employment opportunities. Furthermore, USAID MADANI will remain a key supporter of YDMI, sub-national CSOs, and multistakeholder collaboration to advance the rights of disadvantaged groups across Indonesia.