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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Indonesia Tackles Stigma Around Hidden Disabilities with New Public Space Initiative

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Stigma surrounding 'hidden disabilities' remains high in Indonesia, posing challenges for individuals with conditions like autism, ADHD, and anxiety.
  • Sunny Kids launched the BIRU initiative, a visual identifier to help the public recognize and understand the needs of those with hidden disabilities in public spaces.
  • The initiative aims to foster greater awareness and encourage public spaces like transportation hubs and shopping centers to become more inclusive.

Indonesia continues to grapple with significant stigma surrounding 'hidden disabilities,' creating obstacles for individuals with conditions such as autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorders, and anxiety. These conditions, which are not physically apparent, often lead to misunderstandings and negative judgments when individuals encounter difficulties navigating public spaces.

Many individuals with hidden disabilities experience difficulties not only because of the conditions they have but also because of the lack of understanding from the surrounding environment.

— Christina OnasisThe Director of Sunny Kids explaining the challenges faced by people with hidden disabilities.

Low public awareness is identified as a major barrier to creating truly inclusive public environments. To address this, Sunny Kids has introduced BIRU (Bantuan Inklusif di Ruang Umum), which translates to Inclusive Assistance in Public Spaces. This initiative provides a visual identifier designed to help the public recognize and better understand the needs of individuals with hidden disabilities during their daily activities.

Christina Onasis, Director of Sunny Kids, explained that many individuals with hidden disabilities face challenges not only due to their condition but also because of a lack of understanding from those around them. "BIRU is not just because the card is blue, but it is an abbreviation for Inclusive Assistance in Public Spaces," she stated, emphasizing the initiative's purpose.

BIRU is not just because the card is blue, but it is an abbreviation for Inclusive Assistance in Public Spaces.

— Christina OnasisExplaining the meaning and purpose behind the BIRU initiative.

Unlike physical disabilities, hidden disabilities are often not immediately recognizable. For example, a child with autism experiencing sensory overload in a public place might be perceived as misbehaving, while someone with ADHD could be seen as undisciplined, and individuals with anxiety might be labeled as overly dramatic. Christina stressed that BIRU's goal is not to seek special treatment but to build awareness that everyone has different needs. Sunny Kids is collaborating with various sectors, including transportation operators, airlines, shopping malls, and educational institutions, to create more welcoming public spaces for those with hidden disabilities.

The main goal of BIRU is not to obtain special treatment, but to build awareness that everyone has different needs.

— Christina OnasisClarifying the objective of the BIRU initiative.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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