Seated in her electric wheelchair, Ida Mujtahidah beamed with joy as Dr. Wawan Masudi, the Dean of UGM’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), approached and handed her diploma.
As she shook hands with the dean, her eyes welled up with tears—unable to hide her happiness at graduating cum laude with a master’s degree. Earning a master’s was one of the greatest achievements of her life.
Ida, as she is commonly called, was one of 841 graduates from the master’s, specialist, subspecialist, and doctoral programs who attended the postgraduate graduation ceremony at Grha Sabha Pramana in late January.
She completed her studies on time in the International Relations Master’s Program at Fisipol UGM, demonstrating unwavering dedication and perseverance. She even graduated cum laude with an impressive GPA of 3.9.
Ida shared that her family played a crucial role throughout her academic journey, providing moral, emotional, and logistical support, including the provision of an electric wheelchair.
However, she admitted that she experienced a mental breakdown during her studies.
Fortunately, fellow LPDP scholarship awardees helped her through the difficult period by ensuring she felt safe, encouraging her to stay confident, and accompanying her after routine counseling sessions with a psychologist.
“Of course, there is still room for improvement in raising awareness and fostering a more inclusive culture at UGM,” she said.
As a person with disabilities, Ida explained that her biggest challenges in university were maintaining physical stamina and dealing with mobility limitations.
However, with a well-organized schedule, strong family support, and her determination to graduate, she overcame obstacles and focused on her goals.
She also appreciated the accessibility services provided by Fisipol UGM and UGM in general, such as fully operational elevators, designated rooms for visitors with disabilities in the UGM Library and Archives, and additional ramps at FISIPoint.
Moreover, the hybrid learning system, which allowed both online and offline participation and digital assignment submissions, made her coursework more manageable.
“UGM has provided various disability-friendly facilities, such as ramps, handrails, and support services. However, further improvements are needed, such as more inclusive campus transportation and better accessibility in older buildings,” she explained.
Ida began her studies in 2023 and remained actively involved in disability advocacy throughout her university career. She also participated in various conferences and was recognized as the best paper presenter at the 6th International Conference on Interreligious Studies (ICONIST), organized by UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta.
Additionally, she was selected to participate in the 2024 Disability Advocacy Research School, a collaboration between SAPDA (Center for Advocacy for Women, Persons with Disabilities, and Children) and KONEKSI (Knowledge Partnership Platform Australia–Indonesia).
Ida had every reason to be proud, as only 21 participants were chosen from hundreds of disability researchers across Indonesia. She was also invited to participate in the International Conference on Knowledge from Women, organized by the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) at Universitas Brawijaya in mid-September 2024.
Now that she has graduated, Ida hopes to contribute more to disability advocacy, particularly in shaping inclusive policies. She also plans to continue her studies at a higher level, believing that higher education plays a vital role in opening employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“University not only provides knowledge but also builds confidence and professional networks necessary to compete,” she said.
At the same time, she emphasized that society must also support persons with disabilities by understanding their needs, eliminating stigma, and ensuring equal opportunities in various fields, including education and employment.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Photo: Personal Documentation