Kartunet - For women with disabilities, living in society often means facing a thick wall of stigma. From being labeled as a 'sick' group, not independent, always troublesome, to being overlooked and constantly pitied. However, facing this situation, people with disabilities must not simply surrender and wait for the world to change. Building equality must start from within oneself by taking control to educate their surroundings.
Understanding the Roots of Disability and Destigmatization Efforts
Sociologically, the understanding of disability in the world has shifted thanks to the emergence of the Social Model of Disability (*Social Model of Disability*). In contrast to the Medical Model, which views the location of impairment or problem as being within the individual's body, the Social Model perspective sees a person's disability as more a result of external factors or a societal environment that has not yet been able to accommodate their physical condition.
For example, a visually impaired person struggles to navigate not solely because their eyes cannot see, but because urban planning or public facilities have not yet provided *guiding blocks* or audio indicators. This awareness is the driving force for the disability movement to continue destigmatization efforts in society, which include hard work to eliminate negative labels (delabeling), combat stereotypes (destereotyping), and abolish segregation and discrimination.
Taking on Roles: Advocate, Educator, and Communicator
The biggest question is: who is most responsible for eliminating the stigma ingrained in society? The answer, of course, is people with disabilities themselves. This aligns with the spirit of emancipation emphasized by visually impaired women's activist, Ibu Mimi Mariani Rusli, who states that people with disabilities must dare to break down barriers by taking on roles as advocates, educators, and communicators in the public sphere.
Being an advocate does not mean always taking to the streets, protesting, or getting angry. Advocacy can be done in a very graceful and diplomatic manner through individual persuasive approaches. Ibu Mimi likens this communication tactic to the 'kite-flying' method, where a person with a disability must intelligently navigate situations to know when to assert a firm stance and when to slightly yield or compromise.
Practicing Self-Advocacy in Daily Life
The roles of educator and communicator can be applied in small ways in daily life. Often, uneducated members of the public intend to help, but their assistance is misguided or tends to restrict independence because it is based on pity. In these situations, assertive communication skills are highly necessary.
If someone excessively tries to guide a visually impaired person, instead of curtly refusing, a visually impaired person can respond educationally by demonstrating their limits of ability and independence. For example, by gently saying, "It's okay, Ma'am, I can walk to the restroom by myself, but you can help me with just this part."
This response indirectly teaches society about the forms of accommodation truly needed by people with disabilities. If not taught directly, society will never know the proper way to interact and what the true essence of appropriate accommodation is.
Conclusion
Justice is not defined as demanding equal treatment for everyone, but rather ensuring that each person receives facilities and treatment according to their individual needs. Transforming stigma into stimulation means that people with disabilities are present in society not to be pitied with sympathetic glances, but to be loved and to have their dignity respected. Through good communication, the wall of stigma will slowly crumble, replaced by understanding and equality. (DPM)
References:
- Bappenas, KSP, AIPJ2, & JPODI (2021). Monitoring the Fulfillment of Disability Rights.
- "Webinar After Darkness, Light Emerges" (Kartini Day Commemoration 2025). YouTube Indonesian Association of the Blind (Pertuni).