UMY Commits to Becoming an Inclusive, Disability-Friendly Campus

Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) is continuing its efforts to become an inclusive, disability-friendly campus. UMY Secretary Dr Bachtiar Dwi Kurniawan outlined the university’s concrete steps to improve services for all members of its academic community and the public with disabilities. “We are enhancing our infrastructure to ensure it is more accessible to everyone,” Bachtiar explained during a talk show at the UMY integrated campus library on Monday (20/7).

Infrastructure improvements extend beyond learning facilities to include spiritual needs. Bachtiar stated that the university is committed to providing inclusive worship facilities, with plans to install a lift in the UMY mosque to improve access. On the academic side, UMY has consistently admitted students with disabilities across all its study programmes for the past five years. The university is also working to provide sign language technical assistants to support students with hearing impairments.

Bachtiar noted that students with disabilities, including those with visual impairments, have performed well academically, with some achieving excellent grades. “We are committed to not discriminating against our students. We accept them, guide them, and equip our learning facilities to be more accessible,” he said. The inclusive ecosystem extends to the classroom, where lecturers provide additional explanations and students support one another. UMY has also opened its doors to staff with disabilities, ensuring they have employment opportunities and can work happily and prosperously.