Jakarta, Kartunet.com - “The beauty of understanding” was the theme of the musical drama event celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (HIPENCA) 2011, organized by the HIPENCA 2011 Arts Committee at the Atrium of Pejaten Village Mall, South Jakarta (November 27).
This event, comprising 5 exhibition booths, represented each type of disability. Specifically for the visually impaired, the Kartunet Community Indonesia booth was present. KCI showcased various accessible tools for the visually impaired, such as screen readers on laptops or mobile phones, talking watches, writing tools for the blind (braille slate and stylus), and even accessible games for the visually impaired (Rubik's Cube, Top Speed, and others).
According to one of the event organizers, Trian Gembira, a visually impaired person with low vision, the musical drama, which was held for the first time in Jakarta, was intentionally staged in a mall because it tends to attract attention. It was hoped that information about disabilities would be more easily conveyed to the general public.
Performed by 78 people with disabilities aged 7 – 42, including 23 visually impaired, 30 deaf/speech impaired, 15 physically disabled, 8 intellectually disabled, and 1 autistic person, the musical drama titled “Sang Muriang,” written by Kang Irfas (a non-disabled scriptwriter), successfully captivated all visitors at Pejaten Village.
Given the frequent unfair treatment of people with disabilities, the event, attended by renowned MCs Kemal Vivaveni Mochtar and Dewi Hughes, and held in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the Indonesian Association of Persons with Disabilities (PPCI), and other social organizations, chose the musical drama as the most suitable event. This was because, through this musical drama, all types of disabilities could participate without differentiating the abilities of each person with a disability.
“Phenomena like this should be common in society, because if people with disabilities can respect each other, why do those without disabilities discriminate against each other?” stated Slamet, a visitor from Bekasi.
The event, which opened with a performance by Diferensia Band, a band comprising visually impaired and physically disabled members, was actually just one part of the HIPENCA arts celebration series. The main event, however, will feature a social service program on December 3 – 4 at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), East Jakarta.
Trian hoped that the event would lead to the formation of an inclusive society that can learn to understand each other, especially regarding the potential of every individual. (RR)