Yeni Rosa Damayanti, chairperson of the association Perhimpunan Jiwa Sehat Indonesia delivering a presentation on persons with mental and intellectual disabilities, Thursday (5/12/2022). Photo by Humas MK/Bayu.

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Thursday, May 12, 2022 | 18:12 WIB

BOGOR, Public Relations—The second day of the disability awareness training for skilled and responsive services of the Constitutional Court (MK) commenced at the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center in Bogor on Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Advocate Sarli Zulhendra delivered a presentation on the rights of persons with disabilities in the judicial process (pursuant to Government Regulation (PP) No. 39 of 2020).

Sarli explained that the variety of appropriate accommodation for persons with disabilities in the judicial process is divided into two categories. First, adequate accommodation in terms of services. Second, adequate accommodation in terms of facilities and infrastructure. He also said that adequate accommodation is one of the conditions that must be met to ensure the fulfillment, protection, and respect for the rights of persons with disabilities. There are several legal products that regulate the rights of persons with disabilities, both nationally and internationally.

“All adequate accommodations for persons with disabilities in the judicial process are aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to obtain fair and equal trials,” he stressed.

He also explained that the provision of adequate accommodation for persons with disabilities must be preceded by a personal assessment. The personal assessment is to assess the variety, level, challenges, and needs of persons with disabilities. This can be done both medically and psychologically.

Interaction with Persons with Disabilities

Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII) law lecturer Syafi’ie delivered a presentation on “The Etiquette for Interacting with Persons with Disabilities.” He explained that the state had guaranteed the survival of every citizen and realized equal rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities without discrimination. He added that it was not only infrastructure support to realize a disability-friendly Indonesia, but is also important to maintaining attitudes and ethics in interacting with persons with disabilities.

Syafi'ie also explained about how to interact with persons with disabilities ethically. “Don't forget to practice salam, sapa, sentuh [(greet and touch)] when starting interactions with persons with visual impairment. Then, in interacting with persons with physical disabilities, the most important thing is to first ask whether they need help or not,” he explained.

“Meanwhile, when interacting with persons with hearing impairment, use clear body language, facial expressions, or gestures. If needed, you can also use stationery. To interact with persons with mental disabilities, [you] should use simple and easy-to-understand language,” he added.

Accessible Infrastructure

On the same day, a researcher of the Indonesian Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK) of the Law Faculty of UII Despan Heryansyah explained that persons with disabilities are part of Indonesian society who have the same position, rights, obligations, and roles as other Indonesians. For this reason, it is necessary to have government policies that pay attention to and accommodate the rights of persons with disabilities in their activities in society.

Facilities and infrastructure are divided into two parts: general and special facilities and infrastructure. General facilities and infrastructure are interpreted as accommodation that is built inclusively so that it can be accessed by persons with disabilities, who face all kinds of obstacles, and make it easier to be accessed. Special facilities and infrastructure are defined as accommodation specifically designed to overcome certain barriers faced by persons with disabilities.

The accessibility of an infrastructure in a building is the most important thing to support the safety and comfort of everyone in it. There is no exception for people with disabilities, especially physically disabled people.

People with Mental and Intellectual Disabilities

The last speaker, the chairperson of the association Perhimpunan Jiwa Sehat Indonesia Yeni Rosa Damayanti delivered a presentation on “The Introduction to Persons with Mental and Intellectual Disabilities.” He explained that psychosocial or mental disabilities are disabilities that arise from interactions between people who experience mental health problems and an environment that does not support or hinder them.

Yeni further said that mental health problems can cause disability conditions such as bipolar, which is a mental disorder characterized by drastic emotional changes. A person suffering from bipolar disorder can experience symptoms of mania (very active and excited) and depression.

“Bipolar disorder is generally characterized by drastic emotional changes, such as from very happy to very sad, from confident to pessimistic, from excited to lazy to do activities. Each emotional phase can last in a matter of weeks or even months,” Yeni explained.

Writer        : Bayu Wicaksono
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 5/12/2022 14:50 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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