GAAD 2026: SLBN Cicendo Bandung Students Equipped with Photography Skills
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026, held at Sekolah Luar Biasa Negeri (SLBN) Cicendo in Bandung on Friday 22 May, marks a milestone in efforts to strengthen inclusion. Through a strategic collaboration among the Ascott Group, Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR), and the school, the students are being equipped with photography skills as a gateway to the labour market.
Bandung’s Mayor, Muhammad Farhan, who attended the event, stressed that mastery of practical skills is crucial for people with disabilities to be able to compete after completing formal education.
The photography training programme was chosen for its relevance to the development of digital technology. Farhan noted that the ease of camera access on mobile phones today broadens opportunities for anyone, including SLB students, to enter the creative industries.
‘We hope to provide these children with additional skills as a foundation for their development when they reach adulthood and graduate to seek employment,’ Farhan said.
He added that in the face of intensifying global competition, formal education must be complemented by practical skills that provide real added value to individuals.
In his remarks, the Mayor also gave special appreciation to professionals from the hospitality sector involved. As Bandung is a premier tourist destination city, the hospitality sector plays a strategic role in regional economic growth.
According to Farhan, economic progress must go hand in hand with social welfare. The GAAD collaboration is a tangible manifestation of efforts to advance both aspects simultaneously.
While optimistic, Farhan warned that future challenges are not light. Bandung’s rapidly expanding economy is sure to attract many competitors from outside the region. Therefore, enhancing personal capacity is essential so that local residents, including people with disabilities, do not fall behind.
‘Don’t let yourself be left behind, or outcompeted. This is the time to keep adding the skills we have,’ he asserted.
The Bandung City Government remains committed to ensuring that every resident has equal access to development. With proficient photography skills, the students are expected to capture the beautiful and honest sides of Bandung through their lenses, while also paving the way to economic independence in the future.
The pinnacle of the Milangkala Tatar Sunda celebrations continued on Sunday evening (17 May) with the Peuting Munggaran Milangkala Tatar Sunda stage at the West Parking of Gedung Sate. The procession will begin at Kiara Artha Park and end in the Gedung Sate area.
Bandung’s tourism industry continues to show positive development as transport accessibility to the city continues to improve. Bandung is predicted to see a surge in tourist visits during the mid-May 2026 long weekend.
PMKS handling is conducted from assessment, outreach, to social rehabilitation.