Supporting Disability Services, UNU Jogja Delegation Shares Best Practices at the National Pre-KUPI III Conference

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — A delegation from Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), comprising Dr. Wiwin Siti Aminah Rohmawati, Adviser to the Center for Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSi); Dr. Murdianto, Head of the Disability Services Unit; and Yuyun Apriani, a volunteer with UNU Jogja’s Sahabat Disabilitas, actively participated in the series of events leading up to the Third Indonesian Women Ulama Congress (KUPI III), held on October 6–9, 2026, at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, in Ciputat, South Tangerang.

Under the theme “Ulama as Global Peace Actors: Strengthening Justice, Equality, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Indonesia,” the pre-KUPI III conference featured several activities, including book discussions, a national seminar, and a networking workshop for women ulama.

During the book discussion session, Dr. Wiwin Siti Aminah Rohmawati and Yuyun Apriani served as speakers, presenting two books they co-authored: Martabat Tanpa Batas and Bunga Rampai Fiqih, Disabilitas, dan Pencarian Makna Beribadah. One of the books, developed with contributions reflecting the experiences of persons with disabilities, followed up on recommendations from a workshop held in Yogyakarta in April 2026.

“Through our books, we want to encourage society to view disability issues more comprehensively. We must recognize that disability is not only about access to buildings and transportation, but also about the environment, education, public policy, media representation, religious life, and everyone's right to make choices about their own lives,” Dr. Wiwin said.

In her book, Yuyun Apriani emphasized the importance of recognizing the experiences of persons with disabilities as a source of knowledge in discussions on accessibility. She explained that written works can help amplify experiences that remain insufficiently visible or understood by the wider public.

One of the issues she addressed was waste management and climate change. Environmental problems affect everyone, including persons with disabilities. They must therefore have equal access to information, facilities, and opportunities to participate in environmental protection efforts.

Waste bins, for example, are not always equipped with labels accessible to people with visual impairments. This can make it difficult for them to distinguish between bins for organic and inorganic waste.

Yuyun proposed using Braille labels or audio technology to make information about waste categories more widely accessible. Her proposal highlights the fact that accessibility must extend beyond roads, buildings, toilets, and other physical infrastructure that have traditionally received the most attention.

Accessibility must also be incorporated into everyday facilities used by the public. Public facilities should be designed with the needs of persons with disabilities in mind from the outset, rather than adapted only after barriers emerge.

Beyond environmental issues, Yuyun also shared her experiences with mosque accessibility, which she documented in the book Bunga Rampai: Fiqih, Disabilitas dan Pencarian Makna Beribadah.

As a person with a physical disability, she has experienced difficulties navigating ablution areas where water flows across or accumulates on the floor. These conditions can leave the lower part of her body wet and create additional obstacles when she continues toward the prayer area.

She also recounted having to jump over a barrier in the ablution area of a mosque in Yogyakarta. Although she had become accustomed to doing so since childhood, the experience illustrates how facilities considered simple by some people can increase the risk of falls or injuries for persons with disabilities.

Her experiences serve as a reminder that the coping strategies persons with disabilities develop to overcome barriers should never be used to justify leaving inaccessible facilities unaddressed. Places of worship should be designed so that all worshippers can use them safely, comfortably, and equally.

During the Indonesian Women Ulama Workshop, Dr. Wiwin Siti Aminah Rohmawati and Dr. Murdianto also shared insights into the challenges and good practices involved in providing disability services at UNU Jogja.

“This is important for building collaborative agendas with various networks, including universities, Islamic boarding schools, civil society groups, and policymakers working on disability issues,” Dr. Murdianto said.

At the end of the workshop, Dr. Wiwin was elected Chair of KUPI for Disability, a network of women ulama advocating for justice, equality, and the rights of persons with disabilities. The workshop produced several key recommendations to inform the Third Indonesian Women Ulama Congress, scheduled to take place in Malang in November 2026.

Reporter: Latifah