Designing a Multiscale Support System for Digital Education to Improve Higher Education Access for People with Disabilities (PWDs) at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS)
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) is committed to providing world-class, equitable education for all. As part of this commitment, ITS collaborated with the University of the West of England (UWE, UK) through the “Disability Inclusion Partnerships” grant. This project, “Designing a Multiscale Support System for Digital Education to Improve Higher Education Access for People with Disabilities (PwDs) at ITS,” aims to design a comprehensive support system for students with disabilities (PwDs) to fully access higher education
While Indonesia has a strong legal framework for inclusive education, implementation in higher education still faces challenges. Students with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments, face systemic barriers in accessing digital education systems. ITS’s current digital systems, such as myITSClassroom which consists of 41 applications , are not yet fully equipped with features that support disability inclusion.
This research uses a multiscale approach that integrates three main pillars: Student Input (Admissions), Student Process (Learning), and Student Output (Graduates & Careers). Data was collected through gap analysis, benchmarking with other universities (like UNESA and UNPAM) , and 33 workshops and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) involving approximately 20 people with disabilities, lecturers, ITS leadership, and strategic partners like Bappenas and YPAB (Foundation for Blind Children Education).
Based on these findings, here are the key policy recommendations for ITS:
Milestone 1: Student Input (Admissions)
Adopt Assistive Tech: Institutionally adopt assistive technologies like NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) and UserWay as cost-effective solutions.
Industry Partnerships: Build networks with companies to increase awareness and capacity for accommodating PwDs, including through the established partnership with Bappenas.
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