Students with disabilities (SwDs) in Indonesia has been long marginalized in the community including their rights to have equal access to gain quality education. It is found that SwDs have lower educational attainment than others. The existing specials schools are not equipped with adequate infrastructure and facilities.

 

Because of the low quality of education and  low supporting facilities as well, many of these SwDs can’t acquire an adequate income to support their lives after graduation. They are simply left behind by the cut-throat competition to acquire decent jobs. The employment rate is less than 2 percent in SLBN 2 Jakarta. Therefore, many of them who did not succeed remain at home and labeled as “useless” and “hopeless” by the community surrounds them. Therefore, ABILITAS.ID aims to provide students with disabilities with relevant training programs. In this period, we are committed to provide the students with graphic design training. We choose graphic design because based on our surveys the students in SLBN 2 Jakarta have the passion and the potential in graphic design.

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What is our goal?

We helped fifteen grade-12th-students and alumni selected by the teachers within SLBN 2 Jakarta and provided them with three-month graphic design training. The curriculum was designed for the kids to create something tangible that they could later on showcase in the form of product and also design portfolio.

 

When was it?

This program was started from September until November 2019 at SLBN 2 Jakarta. There were 12 meetings with 4 meetings each month in total.

 

Who were our participants?

Our participants are students with hearing difficulties and autism who are students and alumni of SLBN 2 Jakarta.

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What’s the result?

The students were guided to transform their design ideas into tangible products, which are green products, to support the movement of zero-waste or minimal-waste lifestyle such as tumblers and totebags. Moreover, an exhibition was held to promote and introduce the products which the students already made during the 3 months of mentoring program. The products were sold at these events. 50%e of the profit was given back to the students and the rest would be used to sustain further training of ABILITAS.ID.

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We believe that graphic design training for students and alumni of SLB 2 Jakarta is able to enhance their vocational skills, expose the students’ talents to public and potential employers, and give a chance for the teacher to also learn how to teach graphic design to future students.