USAID/Indonesia Program Summary on Persons with Disabilities

USAID/Indonesia

Caca (pronounced Chacha) who is blind, is learning Braille at the USAID-funded Early Intervention Center, part of the Opportunities for Vulnerable Children Program implemented by HKI.

Under the Opportunities for Vulnerable Children (OVC) program, USAID/Indonesia, in partnership with Helen Keller International and a large group of other international and Indonesian organizations, is implementing activities to provide assistance to – and advocate for – children with various disabilities including children who are blind or have low vision, children who are deaf or have low hearing, autism, learning disabilities and multiple disabilities.  The OVC program is developing a viable model to provide education opportunities for these children.  The program includes successful identification, assessment, and enrollment of children with disabilities into the public school system; early intervention programs; resource networks for children with disabilities and their teachers; training for public school teachers and principals;  public advocacy; and acceptance, endorsement, and support from the Ministry of National Education.  The objective of OVC is to create a sustainable, effective model for inclusion of students with various disabilities within the public education infrastructure. This is being accomplished by leveraging resources, advocating for policy change, and implementing these new policies. To date, these activities have led to a substantial increase in the number of children with disabilities attending school, coupled with increased availability and improved quality of inclusive education services.

A cross sector of individuals representing a variety of disabilities are involved with all aspects of the OVC program. They provide input on curriculum and learning materials and offer counseling and support. They are members of the policy task force for inclusive education in Jakarta and are key players in assessing students with who are blind or have low vision. OVC depends on the direct participation of many professionals who are blind and/or deaf  as well as professionals with various levels of visual and/or hearing related disabilities whose input and expertise are vital to the program’s objectives. USAID funds one full-time OVC trainer who is blind.   

USAID/Indonesia

A person with a physical disability casts his vote at the first Indonesian direct presidential election

Persons with physical and intellectual disabilities also receive substantive consideration when USAID/Indonesia’s other programs are implemented. The Tsunami Recovery and Reconstruction program’s West Coast Highway project is ensuring that bridge sidewalks and approaches to all bridges are wheel-chair friendly. The Democracy and Governance Program will assist disability groups with developing effective electoral rights strategies for the 2009 Presidential elections and is also implementing livelihood and small-scale economic development projects such as providing support for farmers and fisherman – some of whom have a physically disability

USAID/Washington Disability and Development Program Homepage

http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/disability/