On Monday, 22 July 2024, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya (UKWMS) launched its Disability Service Unit (ULD). The launching shows the commitment and active involvement of UKWMS to build an inclusive campus for the entire academic community and society. UKWMS as a Catholic campus plays an important role in driving human equality in education that is based on Catholic values.

Drs. Kuncoro Foe, G.Dip.Sc., Ph.D., Apt., Rector of UKWMS said, “UKWMS as a creation of the Diocese of Surabaya has received a grant from the Indonesian government to establish a Disability Service Unit. This service unit is important in implementing educational inclusivity. Humans, as God’s highest creation, are given the mandate to care for the earth and pay attention to all of God’s other creations, especially the younger generation who are studying in a higher education university but at the same time experiencing obstacles due to a disability. Therefore, through this Disability Service Unit, it is an extraordinary support for learning for every human being.”  

In addition to the ULD staff, 19 inclusive volunteers representing the academic community of UKWMS campuses in Surabaya and Madiun were also part of the ULD team. They were officially announced to the public during the launching. The volunteer team consists of 15 students, 2 lecturers, and 2 staff. 

In addition to the launch, a talk show was also held with a title, “Moving Simultaneously Towards an Inclusive Campus”. Present as speakers were Valerie Rizkia Fabrian from the Faculty of Business, a student with physical disability, Josephine Kintan, an alumna of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology who is deaf, as well as Andi Rachmadi from the Kedaibilitas organization and Father Tri Budi Agustinus Utomo from the Diocese of Surabaya. The Q&A session was moderated by Eli Prasetyo, M.Si., a lecturer from the Faculty of Psychology.

Valerie and Kintan reflected on their experience of studying in UKWMS. Valerie said that the UKWMS campus was already quite inclusive for its students as she did not experience bullying or exclusion from the student community. This is proven by her achievement as one of the leaders in the Student Executive Board organization. As a deaf person, Kintan has a different experience to share. With her limitations, Kintan needed to optimize her learning by relying on more visual media, borrowing friends’ notes, and using repetition to go over her study lessons right after every lecture.  “I needed to work harder than other friends because of the inequality of access during lectures due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of what students with disabilities need. Therefore, the sharing of information about disabilities needs to be present and continuous in universities. On the other hand, I am grateful because I still received a lot of support from my parents, friends, and lecturers during my studies,” said Kintan.

Concerns about the importance of promoting inclusivity and equal space for friends and colleagues with disabilities did not only come from the disability community in the lay community. The Catholic Church also plays a role in protecting and providing space for the rights of children and adults with disabilities. The Diocese of Surabaya has the Petrus Surabaya Community as a eucharistic association for the deaf Catholic children. The initiation of the formation of this community began with the longing of the Catholics within the Surabaya Diocese who have disabilities to be able to worship. Currently, the Petrus Surabaya community is also a partner for collaboration of the Disability Service Unit in UKWMS.

The original article has been edited for the ASEACCU Newsletter. 

Source: UKWMS