As Indonesia's first ever (silver) medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, I Nengga Widyasih has proven that with the right support, people with disabilities can achieve remarkable success. But as the Paris 2024 Paralympics approach, which begin on August 28, major concerns remain about the lack of assistive technology development in Indonesia.
There are 22.97 million people with disabilities in the country, but many of them still lack the opportunities to develop their potential, let alone compete on the international stage. Lack of government support in providing appropriate assistive technology jeopardizes their chances and limits their dreams of achieving a better life.
Governments have a vital role to play in ensuring that all citizens, including people with disabilities, can participate and succeed equally in a range of fields, including sport.
Assistive technology is a key enabler for people with disabilities to lead more independent and empowered lives. Devices and technologies such as hearing aids, power wheelchairs and artificial intelligence-based applications can help people with disabilities gain easier access to education, employment and everyday activities.
The development of these technologies goes beyond creating tools to opening up opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in society. Unfortunately, in Indonesia, the development and use of assistive technology still faces many challenges.
One of the main problems is a lack of government support: although policies exist, implementation is often ineffective, and many people with disabilities still do not have access to the technology that is meant to assist them.
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Limited infrastructure and a lack of disability-friendly environments exacerbate this situation, making it difficult for people with disabilities to access public facilities.
