SLEMAN -  On the corner of the campus a group of female students were seen discussing something  earnestly, and laughing sometimes. At times, a student used gestures to explain something. This time she took out her cellular phone and typed a few words and showed it to her friend to be read.

That girl’s name is Cinthya Rizki Anida, usually called Kiki, a deaf student in 7th semester of Information Engineering study program at UPNVY. At 3 years of age, Kiki was diagnosed to be deaf. Henceforth, she has communicated with others by reading the movements of their lips of the person speaking to her or if she could not understand she would use gestures or write things of a piece of paper to explain things.

The physical limitation does not mean an obstacle for her.  The academic achievement reached by this girl born in Klaten on May 28th, 1994 has been unbeaten by that of physically normal students. While studying at PangudiLuhur Junior High School and Christian Vocational School 2 in Klaten her academic performance was consistently good. She was even required to operate computer by her friends.

“Sometimes, I have difficulty understanding the lectures because I have to read the lecturer’s lip movements. When communicating with a lecturer I ask a friend to help me translated the points,” she said via a communication application message, Monday (17/7/2017).

Kiki’s difficulty in communication is confirmed by one of the lecturers, Dr.Herlina Jayadiaanti, ST, MT. Herlina admits that she never treats Kiki differently  but she will give an additional special note  to be read and restudied.

“The verbal sentences or expressions during a lecture are certainly different from the written ones in the books and as a lecture I/we have to give her an additional note so that Kiki will be able to understand. In so far Kiki has been able to do properly all the assignments that give,“ said Herlina when met in the Public Relations Room of UPN.

Dealing with a computer is Kiki’s daily routine, both thehardware and the software. Kiki admits that she has been keen of computers since she was in primary school. Her interest in computers became unrestricted when she was in junior High School. Kiki became more motivated to continue her study to a university.

Not only her academic achievement is amazing, in her daily life the second daughter of Drs. AgusSunarwan and RetnoPerwitosari is known as a friendly and sociable person among her friends. She has a lot of friends both on and off campus.

“I have known Kiki as a nice and pleasant person. Despite her lack of one of the sense, Kiki is an independent parson. ” commented Anissa, one of Kiki’s classmates. 

With time Kiki’s confidence grew and she began to show the real identity that she is a deaf person. Unpredictably enough, her friends even gave her supports to be motivated and succeed in her study.

“Between inferior and ashamed to my friends, that I want to revealed that I am deaf. I had to fight with that feeling, even thoudh in Junior and Senior Hisg School, my friends are normal. At university, I felt like my friend talk about me because I can not hear what they said. But I do not care about their outpoint, I still try to build good relationship’ she said.

Moreover, Kiki is a disciplined individual. She always tries to come in time for a class and do the assignments on time. This disciplined has been apparently formed since her study at Dena Upakara SDLB (Primary School for Disabled Students) in Wonosobo.

In response to bullying committed by some university students recently, Kiki expressed her concern. The difference (disability) should not be the reason to hurt others. Bullying is not a sportive act and it reflects the poor intellectuality of that bullying person.

Kiki says that she is eager to finish her study and wants to be a programmer. She wants to create an application that will be useful for people like her. Besides, Kiki has proven that physical limitations are not obstacles to reach one’s success.

“For all my friends with specific needs, let’s keep being motivated. Even if we are not perfect (normal), do not lose hope. Let’s prove that we can do things as well as those normal persons and we can be successful, too”, she wrote at the end of the conversation.

Met at a different location, the Deputy Rector Commissioning Academic Affairs, Dr. Mohamad Irhas Effendi, M. S, explained that the university (UPNVY) has never produced any policies that discriminate or otherwise favor students with specific needs. UPNVY has always implemented the equal standards   applied to the other students in presenting lectures and in other activities.

“No specific treatments are given to students here. From the registration, examination and the final test, students are treated equally,“ said Mr. Irhas in his office on UPNVY’s Condong Catur Campus.

No policies favoring special treatments are implemented by the university (UPNVY) towards students with specific needs. What the university does is that we coordinate with faculty in concern to prepare a seminar examination method and the thesis panel discussion in accordance with the specific condition of the student.

Irhas further explained that UPNVY is open for all the nation’s best sons and daughters without physically discriminating persons to study at the university. As a state-defending campus, UPNVY highly observes the values of discipline, struggling spirits (perseverance), creativity, patriotism and the commitment in maintain the four Indonesia’s national pillars, including tolerance. As per the UPNVY’s regulations, the university will enforce strict consequences to any student proven to have committed an act of intolerance or bullying. (wwj/humas)