Disability Service Unit (Unit Layanan Disabilitas – ULD)

(Doc. UMN)

Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) has established a dedicated Disability Service Unit (Unit Layanan Disabilitas / ULD) to provide structured support and specialized services for students with disabilities. The formation of ULD is formalized through official decrees, including the Establishment of the Disability Service Unit and the Assignment of Members of the Disability Service Unit, ensuring clear authority and operational responsibility within the university. The existence of ULD reinforces UMN’s commitment to creating an inclusive learning environment where all students can succeed both academically and socially. 

UMN is part of only 3.39% of universities in Indonesia that have an officially recognized disability support unit, highlighting the university’s leadership in inclusive education. 

Key functions of the ULD include: 

a. Improving the competence of lecturers and educational staff in supporting students with disabilities.
b. Coordinating every work unit at the University to meet the special needs of students with disabilities.
c. Conducting coordination and socialization across faculties, study programs, academic and administrative staff to ensure special services and accessible facilities are implemented across all aspects of campus life.
d. Periodically evaluating special service programs and continuously improving the quality and effectiveness of these services.  

Institutional Commitment and Leadership Voice 

ULD actively supports the UMN community by facilitating inclusive learning and providing guidance for students with various disabilities, including intellectual, mental, and physical disabilities. The unit organizes seminars and training for lecturers and staff to enhance their capacity to handle students with special needs in the study environment. On April 9, 2025, ULD held a seminar titled “Handling Students with Special Needs in the Lecture Environment”, presented by Dr. Anne Nurfarina, Chairperson of ULD, and therapists Sarah Larasati and Reza Permadi from the Widyatama Art Therapy Center. The seminar focused on profiling students, coordinating class distribution, mapping courses, and providing strategies tailored to different disability types and learning needs. 

In addition to training, ULD provides continuous guidance and coordination for students, lecturers, and parents, emphasizing individualized learning plans, emotional support, and adaptive strategies. The unit ensures that students with disabilities receive appropriate accommodation while promoting understanding and awareness among the broader university community. 

(An overview of different types of disabilities, presented to raise awareness by ULD UMN)

The establishment and operations of ULD are also strongly supported by strategic planning and leadership engagement. According to Dr. Anne Nurfarina, Chairperson of ULD, the unit’s purpose extends beyond service to include education and awareness: 

“We want to provide knowledge that the UMN community should know about the law. Currently, many students are not diagnosed or self-diagnosed, so the right step as a campus is to provide support for both the lecturers, employees, and students.” See the activity here. 

This statement highlights that ULD not only delivers services but also actively educates the campus community about legal requirements and the real needs of students with disabilities. This proactive approach reinforces UMN’s commitment to inclusive education, equal opportunity, and sustainable campus-wide inclusion.