A Glimpse into the Skilled Hands of Disabled Children at SLBN 1 Klungkung

The skilled hands of Putu Keira Anendita Anastasya, I Gede Esa Putra Pratama, and Adi Nugraha were busy cleaning dozens of eggs in the culinary skills room at SLBN 1 Klungkung. There was no special agenda for National Children’s Day at the school, but the children with intellectual disabilities and hearing impairments in the room appeared to celebrate the day by honing their skills. That morning, they were guided by teachers Ni Wayan Suci Ningsih and Suci Rahmawati. "Today we are making salted eggs," Suci Ningsih said when met by detikBali on Thursday (23/7/2026). Their salted eggs are not merely a school practice, as there are already buyers waiting for the products made by these disabled children.

From Monday to Thursday, between 10:30 and 12:00 WITA, the skills room at SLBN 1 Klungkung is always busy. Various skill fields are taught, ranging from fashion design, culinary arts, painting, and dance to crafts, massage, and even motorcycle washing. For the children here, these activities serve as a way to train concentration, fine motor skills, and independence. "The number of enthusiasts in each skill field varies. The children are given the freedom to choose the skill fields they are interested in," explained Suci.

Not far from the culinary skills room, there is a space where children express their creativity through crafts. The current focus is on making souvenirs. One of the craft instructors, Puji Lestari, said that the children participating in the craft class this semester are mostly those with intellectual disabilities. In the same place, Ratna Juwita, the skills programme coordinator, explained that one of their creations made from used materials once won a national championship. Their latest work, a ceremonial offering in the shape of a traditional house, won first place at the national level. According to her, this achievement is a success for a child who, despite their limitations, remained focused and willing to participate in a competition, as not all children in the skills class are willing to take part in contests. "If the child is ready, we encourage them to join the competition. If not, we take it slowly. Sometimes they are moody, but we keep inviting them," Ratna explained.

Curious about the challenges faced by disabled children in competitions, detikBali spoke with I Made Agus Wirawan, a student who won a national student skills competition in 2026 in the souvenir category. According to Wirawan, one of the obstacles he faced was the difficulty in memorising the various materials and the sequence of making the souvenirs. "I forget quickly. But I keep trying to remember by practising," Wirawan explained. Through skills coaching, Ratna hopes the children will have the provisions to become independent. "The hope is that the children have skills as a provision. They can be independent and proud of their own work," said Ratna.