Strengthening the Inclusion of Children with Special Needs and Community Environmental Concern: Penguatan Inklusi Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus dan Kepedulian Lingkungan Masyarakat

Alexander Dwiky Hermawan; Utomo Utomo; Yulia Yunara; Alde Gunde Jan Christian; Raisha Mautia Rahma; Muhammad Irfandi

doi:10.57152/consen.v6i2.2829

Authors

Alexander Dwiky Hermawan Universitas Lambung Mangkurat
Utomo Utomo Universitas Lambung Mangkurat
Yulia Yunara Universitas Lambung Mangkurat
Alde Gunde Jan Christian Universitas Lambung Mangkurat
Raisha Mautia Rahma Universitas Lambung Mangkurat
Muhammad Irfandi Universitas Lambung Mangkurat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57152/consen.v6i2.2829

Keywords:

children with special needs, sign language, disability, social inclusion, environment

Abstract

One of the major challenges faced by communities today is the limited public understanding regarding children with special needs, low environmental awareness, and the lack of constructive social activities that support inclusive community development and children’s psychosocial growth. The aim of this community service program in Desa Sungai Bangkal South Kalimantan for 70 participants were to raise awareness about children with special needs, reinforce environmental responsibility, and increase children's social involvement. The program was carried out utilizing participatory educational with three main activities: socialization of children with special needs and basic sign language, environmental clean-up activities, and competitions and games for childrens. The approaches used were interactive demonstrations, joint environmental actions, and child-centered recreational activities. The findings revealed greater public understanding of inclusivity and disability awareness, improved community participation in environmental cleaning, and high enthusiasm among children during games and competitions. The socialization activity to minimize misconceptions and stigma about children with special needs by emphasizing inclusive values and communication accessibility through basic sign language education. Overall, the program improved social cohesion, environmental awareness, and psychosocial participation in the community. Sustainable partnership with local stakeholders is recommended to ensure the long-term viability and impact of such rural community empowerment programs.

Keyword: children with special needs, sign language, disability, social inclusion, environment

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

UNICEF & BAPPENAS, “CPAP 2026-2030_ Komitmen Indonesia-UNICEF Dukung Pemenuhan Hak Anak _ Kementerian PPN_Bappenas.” 2026.

WHO & UNICEF, “Global Disability Inclusion Report Accelerating Disability Inclusion,” 2025.

N. Zhou, H. M. Wong, and C. McGrath, “Social story-based oral health promotion for preschool children with special healthcare needs: A 24-month randomized controlled trial.,” Community Dent. Oral Epidemiol., vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 415–422, Oct. 2020, doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12554.

BAPPENAS & UNICEF, Analisis Lanskap tentang Anak Penyandang Disabilitas di Indonesia. 2023.

BPS Kalimantan Selatan, Provinsi Kalimantan Selatan dalam Angka 2024. 2025.

A. Rindang, P. Yeni, W. Fitriani, and T. Kiat, “The Communication Ability with Sign Language by Teachers Towards the Achievements of Special Needs Children who are deaf.,” Darussalam J. Psychol. Educ., vol. 3, pp. 29–37, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.70363/djpe.v3i1.206.

I. Fuady, D. Prasanti, and S. S. Indriani, “Penerapan Teori Plan Behavior: Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Niat Perilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat,” J. Berk. Kesehat., vol. 6, no. 1, p. 24, 2020, doi: 10.20527/jbk.v6i1.8638.

M. D. Baker, L. R. Baker, and L. A. Flagg, “Preparing families of children with special health care needs for disasters: an education intervention.,” Soc. Work Health Care, vol. 51, no. 5, pp. 417–429, 2012, doi: 10.1080/00981389.2012.659837.

P. Garg, L. Passarello, C. O’Hea, T. Lai, N. Reid, and B. Farrell, “Developing a community-based model of care for venipuncture in children and young adults with an intellectual disability: a retrospective study.,” BMJ Paediatr. open, vol. 8, no. 1, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2024-002644.

C. Lehna et al., “Community partnership to promote home fire safety in children with special needs.,” Burns, vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 1179–1184, Sep. 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2013.12.019.

WHO & UNICEF, Global report on children with developmental disabilities. 2023.

Y. Yamaoka, N. Tamiya, Y. Moriyama, F. A. Sandoval Garrido, R. Sumazaki, and H. Noguchi, “Mental Health of Parents as Caregivers of Children with Disabilities: Based on Japanese Nationwide Survey.,” PLoS One, vol. 10, no. 12, p. e0145200, 2015, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145200.

C. Fançony, Â. Soares, J. Lavinha, H. Barros, and M. Brito, “Effectiveness of Nutrition and WASH/malaria educational community-based interventions in reducing anemia in children from Angola.,” Sci. Rep., vol. 11, no. 1, p. 5603, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85006-x.

N. E. Ervin and P. A. Kulbok, Advanced Public and Community Health Nursing, vol. 148. 2018.

J. Vila-Guilera, R. Dasgupta, P. Parikh, L. Ciric, and M. Lakhanpaul, “Barriers to the Delivery and Uptake of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Promotion and Infant Diarrhea Prevention Services: A Case Study in Rural Tribal Banswara, Rajasthan.,” Indian Pediatr., vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 38–42, Jan. 2022.

R. Natale et al., “A Randomized Controlled Cluster Trial of an Obesity Prevention Program for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Methods and Implications.,” Nutrients, vol. 16, no. 9, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.3390/nu16091274.

P. D. Williams et al., “A community-based intervention for siblings and parents of children with chronic illness or disability: the ISEE study.,” J. Pediatr., vol. 143, no. 3, pp. 386–393, Sep. 2003, doi: 10.1067/S0022-3476(03)00391-3.

C. Mac Giolla Phadraig, S. Guerin, and J. Nunn, “Train the trainer? A randomized controlled trial of a multi-tiered oral health education programme in community-based residential services for adults with intellectual disability.,” Community Dent. Oral Epidemiol., vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 182–192, Apr. 2013, doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12006.