Jakarta, Kartunet.com - Technological advancements are incredibly supportive of the lives of people with disabilities, especially the visually impaired. Screen reader software, Braille printers, talking clocks, and various other technological tools are essential for the visually impaired to facilitate independence. Unfortunately, these tools are still difficult to obtain in Indonesia. This very reason motivated Suratim Bagaskara to open a store providing a wide range of assistive devices for the visually impaired.
Braille Adaptive. That's what Suratim named his store. The products offered are diverse, ranging from PACMate Omni Accessible (Pocket PC for the Visually Impaired), talking thermometers, Magic for Windows (Magnifier Program), Victor Reader StratusS (Talking Book Player), PlexTalk (DAISY-formatted Talking Book Player/Recorder), and more. He sells his merchandise online at www.brailleadaptive.com. Since starting his business in 2003, Suratim has established several offline store branches. Not only does he sell from his home in the Bogor area, but Suratim also has a branch store in the neighboring country.
Suratim, who appeared sociable and friendly during the interview, shared many details about his activities selling assistive devices for the visually impaired. He chose this business due to his interest and hobby in technology. Furthermore, he felt that few Indonesians ventured into the accessible technology business sector. “Accessible technology for the visually impaired is still a niche area; since I enjoy technology, I decided to pursue it,” said the man who became visually impaired at the age of five.
“My customers are quite numerous, coming from all over Indonesia, and even Asia,” Suratim stated. Organizations for the visually impaired are certainly his loyal customers. Additionally, Suratim admitted that several private companies have also purchased his products. A significant number of individuals have also bought Suratim's products for personal use. Suratim is indeed the sole holder of original licenses for visually impaired technology products in Indonesia. Not just one, he collaborates with several companies such as Freedom Siantyfic,Nuance Talks, Nuance Comunication, and so on. “Initially, I asked many questions about their product knowledge. Over time, these companies themselves appointed me as their dealer in Indonesia. So, I didn't actually apply,” he said.
How did Suratim come to know these international-level companies and gain their trust? The secret lies in Suratim's active participation in various accessible technology training sessions held in different countries. Since 2004, Suratim has traveled to Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, America, and other places to acquire knowledge in accessible technology. It was there that he began to meet and become known by the marketers of global accessible technology companies.
Now, not only does he attend training, but Suratim has also become an IT trainer himself. He frequently receives invitations from various institutions to provide training across Indonesia, including Palu, Medan, and East Nusa Tenggara. The topics he teaches include web accessibility, Guiding Web, JAWS scripting, and more. Ultimately, Suratim's training activities have made the Braille Adaptive store increasingly well-known among the visually impaired throughout Indonesia.
The second of three siblings has gained a wealth of experience over nine years managing the Braile Adaptive store. Suratim sells his products in dollars, so when the dollar-to-rupiah exchange rate changes, he has to adjust his product prices. In the early days of managing his business, Suratim encountered challenges due to this. “At that time, I had already made a deal with a customer, and suddenly the dollar price fluctuated very rapidly. Well, I couldn't possibly change the agreed-upon price with the customer. So, you could say I incurred a bit of a loss then,” he recalled.
Suratim admits that selling accessible technology products in Indonesia presents its own unique challenges. Besides the relatively low purchasing power of the Indonesian public, Suratim often encounters people who are unwilling to use original products even if they have sufficient financial means. Suratim is trying to find a solution to this problem. “I will continue to educate the public that the costliness of a product is relative. If we can gain more benefits by using original products, why shouldn't we show appreciation to the company that created that product for our independence by purchasing the genuine article?” said the man born on May 19, 41 years ago.
Suratim's hobbies, it turns out, are not limited to technology. The alumnus of the National University's English Literature department also seems to be passionate about the world of literacy. He was once a journalist for Mitra Netra Online media, wrote accessible technology articles and poetry for a magazine, and his short stories were even published in a major national media outlet. . “Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), I also once won second place in a National Poetry Competition organized by Pertuni,” Suratim recounted.
The father of three children stated that despite experiencing ups and downs, the business sector he chose has been able to meet his family's living needs. According to Suratim, self-reliance in entrepreneurship is a valuable asset for people with disabilities. The first step to living independently, Suratim continued, is to break down mental blocks. Suratim, who grew up accustomed to interacting with non-disabled individuals, admitted that he did not face significant obstacles in overcoming his mental blocks. This means that environment and social interaction greatly influence one's courage to leave their comfort zone. “Mental blocks among people with disabilities are still quite prevalent. So, if you want to succeed, it must start with willpower and inner strength, and only then be propelled by external factors,” he remarked. (RR)
editor: Herisma Yanti