UKDW Disability Services Unit Secures National Top 5 Ranking for Disability Support Strengthening
The Disability Services Unit at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (ULD UKDW) has achieved a major milestone despite being only one year old. ULD UKDW has been ranked among the national Top 5 Universities for Strengthening Disability Service Units, an award presented by the Directorate of Education and Student Affairs under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. The recognition highlights UKDW’s ongoing efforts to improve and expand disability support services.
The award was announced during the 2025 Seminar on the Outcomes of the Disability Service Unit Establishment and Strengthening Grant Program, held online on Monday, December 8, 2025. ULD UKDW was selected after a competitive assessment involving 24 other universities that received similar grants from the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs. The evaluation considered program achievements and innovations, impact and collaboration, and sustainability plans.
Established in late November 2024, ULD UKDW has continued to advance inclusive and sustainable services. Supported by the ULD strengthening grant received on June 22, 2025, the unit formulated and implemented eight key programs. These include developing profiles of students with disabilities, drafting the 2026–2028 ULD Strategic Plan, providing Differentiated Learning training for lecturers, developing the ULD website, and creating Standard Operating Procedures for the Disability Admission Pathway (PMJD).
In building its services, ULD UKDW partnered with several experts, including Dr. Asep Jahidin, S.Ag., M.Si. (PLD UIN Sunan Kalijaga), Prof. Dr. Ishartiwi, M.Pd. (PLD UNY), and Wuri Handayani, S.E., Ak., M.Si., M.A., Ph.D. (ULD UGM). From September to October 2025, the unit also collaborated with the Center for Disability Studies and Inclusive Design and the Synods of GKI and GKJ DIY–Central Java to host an Advocacy Seminar on Inclusive Services for Universities and Churches, as well as a Basic Sign Language Workshop for the academic community and partners.
Beyond grant-funded activities, ULD UKDW, together with UKDW’s Office of Student Affairs, Alumni, and Career Development (Biro 3), has supported three students with disabilities receiving international Rehabilim Trust scholarships, one student funded by the national ADik Disability scholarship, and one alumnus who participated in job training provided by the Yogyakarta Manpower Office. “We are grateful that the alumnus who took part in the training has secured employment at a company in Yogyakarta as of December 2025,” said Stefani.
Stefani Natalia Sabatini, S.T., M.T., Head of ULD UKDW, emphasized that the achievement aligns with the unit’s vision of fostering a humane and culturally grounded academic community through empathetic, inclusive, accessible, and disability-friendly educational services that support the optimal development and independence of persons with disabilities.
ULD UKDW’s mission includes developing participatory educational programs, providing equitable facilities, and building a disability-friendly campus culture. “The strong support from all corners of UKDW shows that campus inclusivity is a collective effort and reflects UKDW’s fourth core value: Service to The World,” she added.
The inclusion of ULD UKDW in the 2025 National Top 5 Universities for Disability Service Strengthening reaffirmed UKDW’s commitment to improving disability services and ensuring equal access to education for all students. Moving forward, the unit plans to expand its programs and accelerate service enhancements to better meet the needs of students with disabilities.
This recognition encourages UKDW to continue strengthening its commitment to inclusion, ensuring that equality is upheld through consistent and meaningful action.
W-ID: mpk | Ed. (ENG): drr
