Gus Hilmy Encourages Young Families of Children with Disabilities to Write About Their Experiences to Reduce Social Stigma

02 September 2026 oleh admin

dpd.go.id - The Writing Workshop for Young Families with Children with Disabilities held by the Yogyakarta Literature Tribe Community at the office of the House of Regional Representative of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta received full appreciation from the Member of the DPD RI from the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Dr. H. Hilmy Muhammad, M.A. This event was considered a great activity because it involved the synergy of many extraordinary parties.

"This is an extraordinary event, a super-super great event. I give extraordinary appreciation for what you all did this morning. And this event is an event that brings together many parties, many things, nothing other than for the benefit of all of us, the people of Indonesia," said Gus Hilmy before the participants in the opening of the Writing Workshop series for Young Families with Children with Disabilities at the DIY DPD RI office, Wednesday (02/09/2026).

In his direction, Gus Hilmy, as he is familiarly known, began his views by referring to the words of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala in Surah al-Isra' Verse 70. He emphasized that the essence of honoring humans is placing fellow humans in an equal position, guaranteeing the validity of their basic rights, and avoiding all forms of arbitrariness and abuse among fellow humans.

"So, if we examine the verse closely, it begins with a strengthening phrase. There's a phrase called laqod, which means 'truly, truly.' Karramna, we honor the Children of Adam. Allah honors all the children of mankind. Allah created all things in perfect taqwim, in a perfect creation, the best, the one who directs all things, all creatures, this is humanity," explained Gus Hilmy.

To the parents who were present, one of the caretakers of the Krapyak Islamic Boarding School in Yogyakarta advised them to always have a big heart in accepting destiny, which is interpreted as deep knowledge of the knowledge, will and creation of Allah Ta'ala.

"If any of us are blessed with a son or descendant with a disability, it's a test. On the other hand, it's also a blessing. Our job is to accept that destiny. As the poet once said, 'If you are willing to accept what God has ordained, you will feel comfortable living your life. Conversely, if you are unwilling to accept what God has distributed, you will find your life constantly in hardship,'" said Gus Hilmy.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chair of the Yogyakarta branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Brotherhood Commission also emphasized the importance of providing children with an understanding of how to deal with destiny, particularly when dealing with bullying from their peers.

"It's also important for parents to teach their children about this destiny and how to deal with it. This can be achieved by channeling their feelings positively without comparing their situation to others," said Gus Hilmy.

Furthermore, Gus Hilmy emphasized the importance of documenting and writing down the real-life experiences of families. This step is considered crucial for eliminating the negative stigma surrounding disability literacy, which is currently still very limited. Through these notes and accounts of experiences, it is hoped that the wider community will gain a true understanding of how to treat people with disabilities humanely.

"By reading all your writings, the public will understand, 'Oh, this is how it works. This is how you experience it.' Perhaps it can be an alternative way to treat children with disabilities. Through parents' writing about their real experiences, it is hoped that the public will better understand the appropriate handling, treatment, and empathy methods, so that the stigma attached to people with disabilities can be gradually eroded. This negative stigma is related to the lack of literacy regarding disability," said Gus Hilmy.

Meanwhile, Fairuzul Mumtaz, head of the Literature Tribe, explained that the workshop will be held for one month at the Yogyakarta DPD RI building. This program is supported by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) through the Language Development and Fostering Agency, under the Facilitation and Appreciation Program for Literary Communities. This program is also held in collaboration with the Bawayang Community.

"For one month, the parents will be assisted in writing literary works, which will be published in a book. This is crucial not only for strengthening literacy among the general public regarding disabilities, but also for contributing new narratives to the treasury of Indonesian literary works," said Fairuz.