Briefing for Airlangga University Volunteers Assisting Students with Special Needs

UNAIR NEWS – Airlangga University is open to accepting students from various backgrounds, including students with special needs, commonly referred to as inclusion. This time, for the first time, on the initiative of the Education Directorate Development team and the inclusion team, UNAIR held a training session for students with special needs. This training involved lecturers from the Faculty of Psychology and the Faculty of Science and Technology, as well as alumni with special needs and volunteers. The training was provided by the UNAIR inclusion management team, alumni, and volunteers. Meanwhile, the ethics of assistance were taught by Dr. Afiah Hayati, Dra, M.Kes from FST and the UNAIR inclusion team. The training was attended by 30 students from various faculties, after going through a selection process. The training was provided by psychology lecturers, volunteers, and students with special needs practitioners. The coordinator of inclusion at Airlangga University, Dr. Nono Hery Yunanto, S.Psi, MPd., Psychologist, said that the objectives of this training included, first, equipping volunteers with cognitive skills, including the concepts and philosophy of inclusion, as well as various types of disabilities. “Additionally, it aims to develop affective skills, training volunteers to adopt a positive attitude when assisting students with special needs; thirdly, it focuses on developing skills and competencies,” explained Nono, as he is affectionately known. During the training, volunteers were trained in various skills tailored to their specific areas of expertise.

The material provided to volunteers includes the philosophy of inclusion, basic understanding of disabilities, how to help friends with disabilities learn, and ethics. In addition to the speakers and volunteers, the training was also attended by around 6 students at UNAIR with special needs, such as physical disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, and other special needs. This allowed the volunteers to interact and understand students with special needs firsthand. Following the training, the volunteers will assist students with special needs. This is in line with UNAIR's spirit of creating an inclusive campus that accepts students with special needs. “The hope is that UNAIR leaders will be more aware of the fact that there are students with special needs who require facilities, tools, and infrastructure. In the long term, they will be able to accept students with special needs through their own selection process. With this training, there will be a process of awareness among lecturers and leaders of each faculty, at least in terms of tools and infrastructure,” explained Nono. One of the presenters, Dr. Wiwin Hendriani, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology at UNAIR, delivered a presentation on the basic understanding of disabilities. She said that to equip volunteers, they must understand how students with special needs are. “Helping volunteers is not about making things easier for them, but rather emphasizing independence, because we are actually helping them to be resilient,” explained Wiwin. Dyah Katarina S.Psi, M.Psi, a member of Commission D of the Surabaya City Council who was also present at the event, said that inclusive schools must be understood by all components of the school, including students, teachers, gardeners, canteen staff, and the surrounding community. Several students with special needs attended the student volunteer training.

(Photo: Binti Q. Masruroh) She said that there is a budget policy for children with special needs from the Surabaya City Education Office, although it is not specifically for children with special needs. It covers facilities and infrastructure for building school facilities.

Meanwhile, Esa Fatika Arif Dewi, a student volunteer from the History Department of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at UNAIR, said that this assistance will be provided for one year. It will take the form of assistance during lectures. Esa is interested in volunteering because she enjoys community service activities. For her, community service is not just about financial assistance. "I have come to realize that there are other people with special needs who require assistance. Yesterday, there was a blind person who got lost at the UNAIR Language Center four times. From there, I became even more eager to become a volunteer," said Esa. Mohamad Reza Pahlavi, an intern at the Journal of Society, Culture, and Politics (MKP) FISIP UNAIR, also attended this training. Reza, who had an accident while in high school, now has to use a walking aid. This alumnus of Brawijaya University hopes that education can reach everyone, including people with disabilities, who can have a platform. The campus facilitates so that students with disabilities are equal to others. “Hopefully, UNAIR will truly become an inclusive campus in the future. Access to facilities, infrastructure, and buildings that are aware of inclusion needs will hopefully be realized,” said Reza. (*)

Source: http://news.unair.ac.id/2018/10/25/unair-beri-pembekalan-relawan-mahasiswa-berkebutuhan-khusus/

Author: Binti Q. Masruroh