Executive Summary

This collaborative research investigates the livelihoods experiences and situations of people with disability in Yogyakarta. In order to gain a better understanding of how people with disability participate in economic activities at the village level, particularly after the implementation of Inclusive Village Initiative (known as Rintisan Desa Inklusi, Indonesian acronym RINDI), the data collected in this research include:

1) type of livelihoods or income-generating activities 2) access and services related to loans 3) social safety nets 4) factors crucial to livelihoods and business success 5) skills developments 6) reasons for working and not working

Access to services and participation in village governance, including perceptions and expectations, of the villagers with disability along with those of Village Disability Groups are also explored.

This research used a combination of activities: qualitative research training, disability inclusive approach and ethics, and collaborative data analysis. Preliminary research findings generated have been communicated to the general public through plays performed by research participants. A number of key issues identified through the research have been communicated with district and village-level government through two sessions of focused discussion. The sessions also facilitated exchange of ideas and proposed recommendations related to issues of data, livelihoods situations and financial inclusion for villagers with disability.

This collaborative research makes three major contributions to disability and knowledge sectors: it engages with SIGAB 1 , a local disability-led organisation,

from design to completion stage; it offers a much-needed insight into dimensions of lived experiences of villagers with disability related to their livelihoods that are locally situated; and it re-enacts those experiences and voices through a cultural approach that is central to on-the-ground knowledge production.

This report is organised into three parts. Part One elaborates the impetus for locally-situated livelihoods research and its political context. Part Two draws together themes identified from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, exploring the interaction of multiple factors influencing livelihoods experiences and choices of villagers with disability. Part Three lay outs recommendations based on insights from the findings.

Although this report is confined to participants from 8 villages participating in the RINDI program, the findings provide the key insight that people with disability work to contribute to their community and be accepted by their community.

1 SIGAB considers itself as civil society organization and advocacy organization rather than as a Disabled Peoples’ Organization (DPOs). It started to engage with the concept of social exclusion and inclusion to rethink, renegotiate and reposition its relationship with the disability groups, wider society and government at both regional and national levels since 2003. The United Nations Development Group’s guidance note (2011) defines DPOs as representative organizations of persons with disabilities established under principles of “self-determination and control by disabled persons, self-advocacy and mutual support, aimed at strengthening the participation of persons with disabilities." Generally, DPOs in Indonesia have strong reliance on a charity-mindset and presumed government funding, which hamper their ability to be proactive in seeking other sources of funding and support (Scoping and Qualitative Needs Assessment of Disabled Persons Organizations in Eastern Indonesia, 2015). What set SIGAB apart from most DPOs in Indonesia is its collaborative approach to better identify and respond to the needs of persons who have a disability, persons whose family members as well as persons who have family member with a disability, as well as local community.