Ketapang marked an important step toward realizing inclusive education by holding a Workshop on the Establishment of a Disability Service Unit (Unit Layanan Disabilitas/ULD) on Wednesday (27/08/2025). The event was initiated by KREASI Ketapang and brought together 22 participants from various institutions, including the Education Office, Social Affairs Office, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Special Schools (SLB), the police, and civil society organizations.
The workshop served as both a reflective and strategic space to discuss challenges and opportunities in fulfilling the right to education for children with disabilities. Data shows that more than 3,400 children with disabilities live in Ketapang, yet many of them still lack access to proper education. Nationally, 20.51% of children with disabilities are not enrolled in school, underscoring the urgency of systemic change.
In the opening session, Program Coordinator of KREASI Ketapang, Santoso Setio emphasized that the establishment of ULD is not just a formality but a concrete expression of the local government’s commitment to social inclusion.
“It is the meeting point between policy, empathy, and real action,” he said.
One of the speakers, academic from Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Asep Ovel Novari, encouraged participants to view disability issues from a broader perspective—including policy, technology, and paradigm shifts. He stressed the importance of building a system that is not only responsive but also transformative.
Meanwhile, Head of the Kalimantan Barat Teacher and Education Personnel Center, Wasimin, outlined the regulatory framework underpinning the establishment of ULD, referring to Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation No. 48 of 2023. He underlined that ULD must serve as an institution that bridges the needs of students with disabilities, from assessment to ongoing support.
The workshop also featured interactive sessions, including simulations of guiding visually impaired students and the screening of an inspiring video that stirred participants’ empathy. At the end of the event, all participants signed a joint commitment to support the establishment of ULD in Ketapang.
Key strategic recommendations included intensive training for teachers and support staff, strengthening cross-sector coordination, public campaigns to raise community awareness, and integrated data collection across sectors such as education, social affairs, and law.
The establishment of ULD in Ketapang is expected to be a milestone toward an education system that is more inclusive, fair, and just for all children, without exception. Through cross-sector collaboration and collective commitment, Ketapang demonstrates that inclusion is not merely a discourse but a real policy direction.
Writer: Afriyandi Huda; Editor: Andika Ramadhan
Photo: Afriyandi Huda/KREASI/Majelis Dikdasmen dan PNF PP Muhammadiyah/Save the Children