UMN Disability Service Unit: “Handling Students with Special Needs in the Study Environment”

Seminar with the UMN Disability Service Unit. (Doc. UMN)

Tangerang—The Disability Service Unit (Unit Layanan Disabilitas/ULD) of Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) is the latest unit created by UMN to provide special services for UMN students with special needs. On Wednesday (09/04/2025), ULD also held a seminar for lecturers and employees on “Handling Students with Special Needs in the Lecture Environment.”

This ULD seminar was presented by three speakers: Dr. Anne Nurfarina, M.Sn., Chairperson of UMN ULD, Sarah Larasati, therapist at the Widyatama Art Therapy Center, and Reza Permadi, therapist at the Widyatama Art Therapy Center. On this occasion, ULD also shared knowledge about disability services to improve the learning process on the UMN Campus. 

“We want to provide knowledge that the UMN community should know per 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,” Anne said.

On this occasion, Anne provided her knowledge and experience in guiding children with disabilities. For Anne, children with disabilities are more sensitive. A more detailed admission system and spiritual support are needed.

Presentation of material by Anne. (Doc. UMN)

“There are four handling schemes for students with special needs, the first is profiling and identifying students, socialization to study programs related to students with special needs, class distribution and course mapping, and coordination between lecturers and ULD,” Anne said.

Anne also shared that there are two types of disabilities: high-function, where children tend to have a good understanding and easily learn new things, and low-function, which tends to have poor understanding and requires a long learning process. But for Anne, all humans have potential.

Presentation of material by Sarah. (Doc. UMN)

Sarah, one of the therapists and resource persons at this seminar, provided information about disability and her experience. For Sarah, guidance needs to be classified and understood by category. 

“Disabilities are divided into various classifications, including mental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and physical disabilities. No physical signs exist, but the behavior is visible and can be distinguished. Such as unstable mood swings, tantrums, screaming, and difficulty regulating emotions,” Sarah said.

Mental disabilities are characterized by unstable mood swings, difficulty regulating emotions, delusional symptoms, and many other symptoms. Intellectual disabilities are characterized by a slower learning process, limited short-term memory, and a need for more time to absorb and apply information

“I have experience in dealing with children who have Bipolar mental disabilities. The character of these children, when manic, can be very productive, and they want to do many things. Meanwhile, during depression, this child tends not to want to do activities at all. We as therapists have to encourage this child and differentiate his moods, which takes five months,” Sarah said.

Seminar material presented by Reza. (Doc. UMN)

On this occasion, Reza also shared his experience guiding children with special needs during learning. Reza himself often coordinates with parents during guiding. 

“In guiding children, the right strategy is certainly needed; each child has a different learning plan. Based on my experience, we must know the child’s natural stimulus, for example, the child likes music and cartoons, which is quite helpful in the learning process. It can help the child’s mood,” said Reza.

Reza also coordinates with parents when guiding children with special needs. According to Reza, some parents only want to know the results, but some also want to know the process so they can implement it at home.

By Rachel Tiffany Tanukusuma | UMN News Service

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

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