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First in Indonesia, UNESA Develops Disability Inclusion Metric

Unesa.ac.id, SURABAYA–Surabaya State University is developing the Unesa Disability Inclusion Metric (UDIM) as a universal parameter of the accessibility level of persons with disabilities in institutions or organizations. UDIM development reached the focus group discussion (FGD) stage with experts and users as well as domestic and foreign partners yesterday (Thursday, 16 June 2022).

Head of the Center for the Study of Disability Services (PSLD) UNESA, Prof. Dr. Budiyanto, M.Pd., conveyed the focus of the discussion in the discussion, namely the preparation of indicators. The development of UDIM, he continued, aims to provide indicators as well as measure the quality level of disability inclusion in an organization.

The expected benefits are to become a reference indicator for the development of disability inclusion quality and become a material for evaluating the quality level of disability inclusion in an organization. “This is an important reference or indicator for organizations or institutions including universities in the world. After discussions with the team, experts, users and partners and based on the existing input, the draft was revised and then launched in the near future, "he said.

UDIM received appreciation from various foreign experts, including the Professor of Special and Inclusive Education, University of Sydney-Australia, Prof David Evans and Professor of Education at The Open University, Prof Kieron Sheehy. On that occasion, both of them also provided reinforcement for the design of the UDIM indicator so that it could become a universal reference for all organizations and institutions in the world.

According to him, this is one of the major breakthroughs made by the 'One Step Ahead' campus to improve the quality of accessibility for persons with disabilities in various fields. Previously, UNESA designed an application that made it easier for the disabled workforce to access employment opportunities in companies or industries. Then develop a sign language dictionary or Signalong Indonesia with foreign experts.

For this commitment, UNESA was trusted by the government to showcase innovations in disability services in Dubai some time ago. "UNESA received an inclusive campus award from the ministry in 2013 and the Service Unit for Children with Special Needs in 2014," he explained.

Disability empowerment, he explained, is one of UNESA's flagship programs. This is supported by many physical resources and qualified human resources. In addition, UNESA experts in the field of disability have obtained national and international recognition.

UNESA is passionately one step ahead and continues to innovate to support all forms of disability empowerment. Therefore, on this occasion, UDIM was launched to measure disability inclusion in organizations as well as to become the first disability inclusion metric in Indonesia and become a reference for world organizations.

The discussion organized by the Clustering and Ranking Unit of UNESA Colleges and the UNESA Disability Service Study Center is part of the series of UNESA's 58th Anniversary. The parties involved in the agenda are the National Committee for Disabilities, the Education Office of East Java, the Center for Disability Services at Brawijaya University, the Association of Indonesian Special Education Professionals in East Java, and other partners. From internally, there were postgraduate ranks, deputy deans for academics, experts and practitioners. [UNESA PR]

Author: Saputra

Editor: @zam Al'asyiah