The Rocky Road for Children with ADHD to Access Inclusive Education

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Attending school is a basic right for everyone, including children with neurodevelopmental disorders or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, not all children with ADHD easily access inclusive education, particularly those from lower-middle-class families. One parent named Debby Rosaliana Febriani (40), a resident of Manggarai in South Jakarta, admits she had to struggle relentlessly to ensure her ADHD-affected child receives appropriate education. “I also looked for an affordable inclusive school. Medically, BPJS helps cover speech and sensory therapy. But the education costs are quite burdensome,” Debby said when met at her home on Sunday (12/4/2026). Moreover, Debby noted that parents must also pay for a companion teacher, commonly known as a shadow teacher, who is a professional such as a child psychologist and must be paid handsomely on an hourly basis. Besides the high cost, quotas for inclusive schools are often limited, forcing Debby’s son, Azzikra Benzema Ibnusina (10), to wait a year. “The waiting list is a year. The school said, ‘Ma’am, sorry, you have to yield first.’ Even though he was accepted and tested. The reason was that another child had just arrived but with a more severe condition; high-level autism plus epilepsy and no prior therapy. It’s pitiful, he’s already six years old,” Debby continued. The teacher also assessed that at Jema’s age of four, his ADHD condition could be better managed, making him calmer because he had undergone therapy. After waiting a year, the COVID-19 pandemic hit Indonesia, temporarily restricting all outdoor activities. Jema, who should have started kindergarten directly, had to swallow another bitter pill due to online learning. However, Debby felt that online learning was deemed ineffective for her child with ADHD. Finally, she negotiated to allow Jema to attend school in person with his teacher. “It was decided that out of six students, Jema would attend alone twice a week for one-on-one sessions with the psychologist,” she said. At the start of school, Jema was not immediately taught reading or other materials, but only introductions. Then, in the second session, Jema had a tantrum while singing a Lady Gaga song. Jema could memorise it because his uncle often played Lady Gaga songs when visiting the house. After that, the teaching and learning process proceeded smoothly, and Jema was willing to complete various tasks given by the teacher. Thanks to the long journey and routine therapy, Jema can now attend a public primary school and is in third grade. Because after graduating from inclusive kindergarten and Jema’s condition improving due to regular therapy, Debby requested a doctor’s recommendation letter to enrol her only son in a public school.