UGM has established Rector’s Regulation Number 19 of 2024 concerning the Disability Service Unit. This regulation formally institutionalizes UGM’s commitment to ensuring equal access to education and inclusive services for students, lecturers, and staff with disabilities. The regulation mandates comprehensive support through two principal mechanisms: service provision and assistance.
Service provision includes:
- disability data collection to ensure comprehensive profiling and accurate service delivery;
- academic, administrative, and student affairs services designed to support full participation in academic activities;
- consultation and counseling services to address academic, psychological, and personal challenges;
- referral services to medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists when further professional support is required; and/or
- other forms of service tailored to individual needs.
Assistance is delivered through:
- academic assistance in the field of education to support learning processes and academic achievement;
- psychological and psychiatric support to promote emotional well-being and mental health;
- social support within the campus environment to facilitate inclusion and interpersonal integration; and/or
- other forms of assistance determined based on specific requirements.
The regulation outlines reasonable accommodation in Article 1 Paragraph 4, defining it as the necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments to ensure the enjoyment and exercise of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities on the basis of equality. This includes adjustments in teaching methods, campus facilities, academic assessments, and access to services to eliminate barriers experienced by persons with disabilities.
UGM, through the Head of the Integrated Health Services Bureau, allocates funding and provides infrastructure to support the operations of the Disability Service Unit as stipulated in Article 9. The ULD infrastructure includes:
- service rooms that meet standards and are accessible for the delivery of ULD services;
- accessible support facilities within the service rooms for persons with disabilities,
- facilities dedicated to improving the physical, mental, and social well-being of persons with disabilities; and
- other complementary support facilities necessary for effective service implementation.
To strengthen institutional support, UGM integrates a funding strategy to ensure that persons with disabilities can access and complete higher education without financial barriers. One of the funding mechanisms is scholarship provision. This scholarship covers tuition fees and provides living allowances for students with disabilities, enabling them to focus on academic completion and personal development. This scholarship covers tuition fees and provides living expenses for students:
Higher Education Affirmative Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities 2024
Higher Education Affirmative Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities 2025
UGM collaborates with private institutions and corporations to expand financial support for students with disabilities. One notable example is the Beasiswa Cendekia BAZNAS, which includes a special category for students with physical, intellectual, mental, sensory, and multiple disabilities. The scholarship benefits include:
- tuition subsidies of up to IDR 7,000,000 per semester;
- scholarship duration of two years (four semesters);
- personal development programs mentored by BAZNAS scholarship advisors;
- final research (thesis) funding amounting to IDR 3,000,000 for students who have completed their research proposals in their final semester; and
- achievement grants for students selected to take part in academic and non-academic competitions (e.g., conferences, scientific olympiads, sports, arts).
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