This is a part of our effort to help our disabled brothers.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Social Affairs Ministry unveiled the "Indonesia Mendengar" (Indonesia Hears) program as part of efforts to expand communication and information access for people with disabilities in Baleendah, Bandung District, West Java, on Saturday.

The program's unveiling was marked by the handover of hearing aids, whistles, adaptive sticks, wheelchairs, three-wheeled motorcycles, smartphones, tablets, and laptops to people with disabilities from across Indonesia.

"There are many problems that our disabled brothers encounter which gave birth to ideas. This is a part of our effort to help our disabled brothers," Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini said during the event.

For people with hearing disabilities, the ministry has provided smartphones installed with a voice-to-text application, which will allow them to communicate with the general public, she explained.

"They could follow what I am saying. They could read here (on the smartphone) and understand even though they could not hear," she said.

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Meanwhile, they can use the whistles to indicate they need assistance, she added.

For instance, if there is a fire, a flood, or another incident that necessitates assistance, they can use the whistle to get help, she explained.

Rismaharini said the ministry will disseminate information about the use of the whistle to the general public so that they can understand the meaning of the signal that is being delivered.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) Ace Hasan Syadzily lauded the effort by the ministry for providing affirmation for people with disabilities.

The provision of this aid is proof that the state exists for the people, he said.

"This is a very positive program showing the state's presence among the people, especially those with disabilities," he affirmed.

"The presence of the ministry, with the various communication aid devices that it gave to people with disabilities, is very beneficial for them," he added.

Data shows there are 28 million people with disabilities in Indonesia; however, only around 35 thousand of them have received affirmation, Syadzily informed.

To this end, he encouraged the expansion of the aid's coverage.

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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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