Disability Community Criticizes Policies on Facilities and Democracy Education

Head of the Lhokseumawe City Disability Association, Tgk Hasbullah.

The Lhokseumawe City Government is being urged to show greater concern in providing facilities and democratic education for people with disabilities. With the availability of facilities and educational support, including in elections and democracy, people with disabilities can live on equal footing with those without disabilities.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Lhokseumawe City Disability Association, Tgk Hasbullah, while attending the Institutional Strengthening event of the Lhokseumawe City Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) or Election Supervisory Agency (Panwaslih) at the Diana Hotel, Lhokseumawe, on Monday, September 15, 2025.

According to Tgk Hasbullah, people with disabilities feel that public facilities are not yet welcoming to them, including mosques. "We have conveyed this several times, but there have been no policies that favor people with disabilities on the ground," said Tgk Hasbullah when Lhokseumawe City Council (DPRK) member Nurbayan spoke in place of the DPRK chairman.

In addition to facilities in public places, including places of worship, Tgk Hasbullah also criticized the lack of involvement of people with disabilities in public policymaking in Lhokseumawe City. He revealed that they are often invited to several activities within the Lhokseumawe City Election Supervisory Agency (Panwaslih), even serving as resource persons.

"But we hope there will be more impactful education for people with disabilities, not just being participants," Tgk Hasbullah criticized. He acknowledged that people with disabilities are often invited to elections, but that such opportunities are not sufficient to strengthen education and democracy for them.

According to Tgk Hasbullah, long-term programs are needed to support the independence of people with disabilities in various fields, including economic and democratic education. "Don't let it just be programs for election periods," he said.

Lhokseumawe DRPK member Nurbayan supports the development of policies that support people with disabilities. "In a number of mosques, for example, I have conveyed the need for facilities for people with disabilities to be built," said the PKS council member.

Political observer Taufik Abdullah, MA, from Malikussaleh University, explained the need for programs focused on economic, social, and cultural independence, as well as the full participation of people with disabilities, so they can become actors in development. "So they're not just recipients of assistance," he said.

Taufik added that the local government, political parties, and institutions such as the Lhokseumawe City Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslih) must work together to strengthen people with disabilities' understanding of political rights, voting rights, and the right to participate in public decision-making.

"The democratic process in Lhokseumawe City must be inclusive of them. This should not only be a momentum program during elections and regional elections, such as outreach programs, but also long-term democratic education that will enable the emergence of politicians or leaders from among people with disabilities," concluded the Deputy Dean III of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Malikussaleh University.[]