Mr. Danang is a community member with a physical disability living in Tegalmade Village, Sukoharjo Regency. He is known as an active community member who regularly attends village activities—not out of formality, but because he believes that his voice matters for the progress of the village he calls home. Unfortunately, within decision-making processes, inclusion has often been understood merely as physical presence. For Danang, however, inclusion means more than simply sitting in the same room. It means that his lived experience as a person with a physical disability is recognized as valuable knowledge, not treated as an additional or secondary opinion.
Through the DI-LLAA (Disability Inclusive – Locally Led Anticipatory Action),a series of capacity-building activities on the rights of persons with disabilities, gender equality principles, and social inclusion values were implemented, involving village officials, village taskforce, community members with disabilities, OPDs and relevant government agencies. These activities contributed to increased awareness and sensitivity among stakeholders regarding the importance of the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in village-level planning and decision-making processes. A key message emphasized throughout the trainings was that persons with disabilities should no longer be positioned merely as beneficiaries, but recognized as development actors with relevant knowledge and experience.
This shift is reflected in Danang’s acknowledgement that he has been formally invited, for the first time, to participate in the Musrenbang (Development Planning Consultation Meeting) in Tegalmade Village. Looking ahead, he hopes that the involvement of persons with disabilities will not stop at attendance or opportunities to speak, but will be reflected in decisions made from the earliest planning stages. This aspiration is not framed as a demand, but as a natural continuation of the positive change that has already begun.