Exactly after 10 years of existence, the Disability Service Center (PLD) Universitas Brawijaya launched a book entitled “Anthology of One Decade of Inclusive Education at Universitas Brawijaya (Bunga Rampai Satu Dekade Pendidikan Inklusif di Universitas Brawijaya)” Thursday, 17 November 2022, in the Main Hall of FEB UB Building, 3rd Floor.
Disability services have been officially established since 2012. Through the Center for Disability Studies and Services, which is currently officially called the Center for Disability Services, equal education for persons with disabilities is organized by directly accepting students with disabilities through the Special Selection Program for Students with Disabilities (SPKPD).
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Aulanni’am, drh., DES. launched the book by handing it over symbolically to representatives from the Vocational Faculty. As it is known, UB Vocational School is the faculty that accepts the most students with disabilities, namely 64 people, since 2012 compared to other faculties in UB.
“At the age of the tenth PLD, I think this is the right time to remember and thank you for the very important role of ladies and gentlemen in making policies regarding inclusive education in faculties and study programs at UB,” said Aulanni’am in his remarks to the deans and heads of study programs who attended the event.
On the same occasion, Prof. Aulanni’am also said that in addition to carrying out the mandate of the law, disability systems and services are also very helpful for institutional development and accreditation of faculties and departments in UB.
“The point regarding inclusion of persons with disabilities is very important in the accreditation of faculties and departments. Besides that, it is indeed our obligation to facilitate persons with disabilities in tertiary institutions,” she stressed.
Knowledge and Experience Compilation
This Anthology has been compiled since 2021. This book consists of the writings of PLD founders, administrators, staff, lecturers, and practitioners. They wrote about their reflections, experiences, and knowledge gained during disability services. The editorial team collects these writings, reviews them, and processes them for publication until they are finally published in November 2022.
Unita Werdi Rahajeng, M.Psi. Psychologists, said that it is not easy to collect these writings. However, according to her, documentation of the reflection and knowledge of disability-inclusion service providers is very important.
“I remember this Latin proverb, ‘Verba volant, scripta manent’, what is spoken will be lost, what is written will be eternal. So these experiences and thoughts regarding disability-inclusion services must be documented, one of which is in the form of a book,” she explained.
Fadillah Putra, M.PAff., Ph.D., one of the founders and first chairman of PLD UB, was also present and had the opportunity to share experiences. Fadillah said that PLD is a manifestation of science.
“PLD UB, which for me is still PSLD, is a manifestation of knowledge that becomes a service. At that time, we started with small discussions, then carried out advocacy on campus so that services for persons with disabilities were held. There are persons with disabilities involved. Nothing about us without us. That is also the reason why PLD is considered successful,” he said.
According to Fadillah, inevitably, disability-inclusion services must be implemented.
“Our Constitution guarantees the rights of all people, including persons with disabilities. That is the reason why PLD existed even before the mandate of Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities was passed,” he stressed.
Not only from the founders, administrators, and staff, PLD UB is also in the process of publishing a collection of writings by students with disabilities and volunteers with very diverse themes, ranging from experiences to their criticisms and input regarding the future of inclusive education at UB. [mahali/sitirahma/ Humas UB/ Trans. Iir]
