DIFABEL NEWS April 2010 - 1 -

Pertuni: Our new partner!

Pertuni, the Indonesian Association for the Blind (www.pertuni.idp-europe.org) has accepted to support PSLDs future activities for
the coming months. The program includes a Javanese cultural event organized by the students with disabilities of UIN and the writing
of two handbooks: One providing tips to lecturers to adapt their course and classroom, the other one guiding PSLD volunteers to
manage the Center. The agreement will be signed during the cultural event in May. More details available in our next newsletter!

partner in May when her representant, Aria Indrawat

















EDITION #8
APRIL 2010
The Center for Disability Studies and Services (PSLD) is located
within the State Islamic University UIN Sunan Kalijaga, sited in
Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Research in progress!
Good news! The Center for Disability Studies and Services at
State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga has been
commissioned by the World Bank
(www.worldbank.org/education/tertiary) to undertake a
national research study on the issues faced by students with
disabilities in accessing higher education institutions in
Indonesia. The research team will be led by Dr Marion Steff,
Dr Rofah Mudzakir, and Andayani, MSW. The participants
will consist of students enrolled at the tertiary level and with a
disability, as well as staff from different departments of the
university (lecturers, administrative staff, library staff, and
more). Results and recommendations will be given to the
World Bank by the end of May. A busy time for the Center!


They are talking
about us!

The Center for Disability Studies and Services has been
contacted earlier this year to write an article in the
International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity 2010
April Newsletter. Dr Cyndy Sit, professor at the University
of Hong-Kong asked Marion Steff to explain the work of
the Center. The articles name is: The Center for Disability
Studies and Services in Indonesia or the Story of Inspired
Scholars who Decided it Was Time to Advocate for
Disability. Check it out, it should be soon online at:
www.ifapa.biz

The journal of the University, the Sunan Kalijaga News
decided to publish a special edition covering the inclusive
work of the Center for Disability and Services. The March-
April 2010 edition called A difable friendly campus
include series of articles on the support to facilitate
inclusion at UIN, the story of its current students with
disabilities, the beginning of inclusions movement in
Indonesian universities, the needs of students with
disabilities in an higher education institution, as well as
PSLD profiles onTriyanto, head of the students with
disabilities; Asep Jahidin, head of the Partnership Division,
and Robithoh Hanifah, head of volunteers. Finally, Ama,
volunteer at PSLD, wrote an article on the experience of
volunteering at the Center, Marion Steff talked about the
Higher Education and Disability conference the Center will
be attending in Austria this summer (see more details in the
March edition of the Difabel News) and Rector Amin
Abdullah elaborated on Religious higher academic
institutions and disabilities. What visibility!
Pak Rector advocating
for disability
awareness

The rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Pak Amin Abdullah, is now
fully involved in the awareness movement on disability
initiated by the Center for Disability Studies and Services. This
April 8
th
, Pak Amin will give a presentation on the importance
of including students with disabilities on the campus. His
presentation, Inclusive Higher Education: A Human Right
has been created in collaboration with the Center. It will be
given to the University Muhammadiyah (www.umy.ac.id) to
the administrative staff.

DIFABEL NEWS April 2010 - 2 -


Each of these events built an exclusive professional
experience, promote our learning of cultures and feed
furthermore our two passions. Of all the sporting events we
have experienced so far, the 2010 Paralympic Games of
Vancouver have left us with a strong impression and most
importantly, unique emotions. While the local population
was recovering from two intense weeks lived with the XXI
Olympic Winter Games, more than 500 Paralympians from
45 countries (led by more than 500 coaches and members of
National Paralympic Committees), have turned upside down
expectations and created a wave of exceptional interest.

Games twin missions are to promote both athletic prowess
and inclusiveness. The opening ceremony of the Tenth
Paralympic Winter Games immediately set the tone with
athletes and artists with disabilities making performances
that have strongly moved 60 000 spectators present in the
stands, and certainly also the viewers around the world.
Paralympics Winter Games
Vancouver 2010: The Best Ever!

By Stphanie Hoarau and Aurore Vincent, founders of The Sports Gateway, www.lechappee.ifrance.com.

Sport and travel.These are the two passions that unite Aurore Vincent and myself, Stphanie Hoarau in achieving our
greatest dreams. Since 2005, we travel the world by integrating the organizing committees of sporting events, mostly as
volunteers. From the FIFA U-17 soccer World Cup in Peru, the Commonwealth Games in Australia, the World Junior
Weightlifting championships in China until recently, the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Vancouver 2010.



The remarkable 2 hour event married the themes in a stirring, emotional explosion of artistry and sporting skill by individuals
who have overcome physical handicaps to excel. The ceremony delivered a powerful, overriding message of hope, inspiration and
athleticism in the face of adversity. The theme "One inspires many" touched the heart of Canadians, particularly impressed by the
extraordinary skill demonstrations that continued throughout the 10 days of competition that followed.

We are not some marginalized community that has that terrible word disabled implicit in it, International Paralympic Committee
president Sir Philip Craven told reporters, shortly before the ceremonies began. We are all part of the World. We are athletes of the
world, and thats the message of the Paralympics Games. I dont see it as political necessarily, but as a need to make the world
accessible to everyone, not just to the majority.





INTERVIEWS OF ATHLETES

Aurore Vincent realized great interviews with five Canadian
basketball athletes from the
Douglas College team, in British Columbia, Canada.

Erik Hagreen, Bo Hedges, Ross MacDonald, Roberto Molina, and
Shira Standfield explained to the students of the Center for
Disabilities and Services how they became elite athletes and how
their disability never prevent them from being physically active. To
watch these interviews as well as the other ones conducted by
Aurore Vincent relative to the Olympics, go on
www.youtube.com/user/AuroreV78




Biathlon in Whistler Paralympic Park, Canada
The Canadian Sledge Hockey Team, celebrating their first place
DIFABEL NEWS April 2010 - 3 -

QUICK
LINKS!

The overall medals board placed Canada in 3rd
place, behind Russia and Germany. With great
pride, Canadians sung 10 times their national
anthem, achieving the best performance of all in
a Paralympic Winter Games. The media have
also made significant efforts to broadcast a
record of 57 hours of formal coverage. Without
any doubt, the Paralympic Games have left a
print full of emotions in Vancouver, as much as
the Olympic Games. They have increased the
interest of people toward these admirable
athletes beyond their athletic performance, affect
the heart and inspire people around the world.
Pictures Copyright: The Sports Gateway.


The tickets to the Paralympic competitions being much more affordable than the Olympics, Aurore and I have enjoyed as spectators
event in each sport represented in the Games, meaning the biathlon, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, hockey sledges and
curling. The atmosphere was always at its heights and we were at all times surprised but delighted by the accessibility to meet the
athletes after their performance. Without difficulties, we were able to congratulate and take pictures of several of them, with a
Paralympic medal around the neck. One of them, an athlete in hockey sledge, said: "I want people to really understand that we are full
time athletes. When we get hit, we just pop right back up, just like they do in the NHL."

For more info on Stphanie Hoarau and Aurore Vincent, check out www.lechappee.ifrance.com

For all the results and the stats of the Paralympics, go to www.paralympic.org

To watch again the competitions and the opening and closing ceremonies, check out
ParalympicSport.tv: http://player27.narrowstep.tv/nsp.aspx?player=ParalympicSportTV


REDACTION & REVISION : Marion Steff, PhD., disability specialist
EDITION : Andayani, Director PSLD & Kelvin Thursby, volunteer
TRANSLATION IN INDONESIAN : Sayyidah Aslamah & Rizki Firli, students
TRANSLATION IN BRAILLE : Hendro Wibowo, student

Credits
Paralympic Alpine Skiing Athlete in Whistler Creekside, Canada
Paralympic Alpine Skiing Athlete
We are not some marginalized community that has that terrible word disabled
implicit in it, International Paralympic Committee president Sir Philip Craven told
reporters, shortly before the ceremonies began. We are all part of the World. We
are athletes of the world, and thats the message of the Paralympics Games. I dont
see it as political necessarily, but as a need to make the world accessible to
everyone, not just to the majority.

Living the Games for the first time, Aurore and I discovered there is a definite
advantage to the fact that the Paralympic Games are organized by the same
organizing committee, on the same sites as those used for the Olympics and just
some days intervals. The enthusiasm that local people had known for the Olympics
has spread to the Paralympics. The sites were always filled with spectators who
wore a lot of admiration and enthusiasm for athletes. Some blind, others in
wheelchairs without arms or walking with wooden legs, some using crutches, here
was the portrait of athletes who taught us a new vision of the infinite
possibilities. Not to mention the guides who play an essential role in the
performance of athletes with visual impairments. This incredible teamwork
connected through a communication system of microphone allows athletes with
visual impairments to slide down the ski slopes at speeds reaching up 100km/hour
or to shoot a rifle at a target with amazing accuracy. The best performance give a
medal not only to the athlete but also to his guide.