Departing from concerns about the inadequately facilitated rights of people with disabilities, both as performers and art viewers. As artists, Muhammad Jhony Fonsen (Tourism) and the team consisting of Reva (Nursing Science), Hatta (Indonesian Language and Literature), Eqi (Psychology), and Thomas (Chemistry) who were accompanied directly by Dr. Hayatul Cholsy, S.S., M.Hum worked together to initiate the PKM Community Service program with the program title “TOK-SHOW OBAH: Self-Actualization of Disabled People in the Arts through Dance Accompanied by Traditional Toys at the Bina Siwi Orphanage, Yogyakarta”.
Not necessarily causing personal unrest, the initiation of this program was aligned with the problems of the partner, namely the Bina Siwi Orphanage. The existence of a vision and mission that is not in line with implementation is a problem that must be resolved. Even though there are programs that refer to arts activities, these activities are not sustainable due to the high costs that must be incurred to bring in practitioners who are experts in their fields.
The “TOK-SHOW OBAH” program, turns out to be a beacon for our friends with disabilities at the Bina Siwi Orphanage. It can be seen that there are significant changes that can facilitate them. The synergy between the team and the caretakers of the orphanage was able to create a space for self-actualization through a collaboration of works of art with the traditional “Otok-otok” toy. These changes can be seen in increasing self-confidence, increased creativity through movement exploration, a level of happiness that slowly begins to emerge through smiling expressions, as well as their understanding of what art is.
Through a program that ran for approximately 6 months (June-November), of course, it did not continue to run smoothly. There were several obstacles that Jhony and the team were able to overcome in solving the problem. One of them is providing understanding to people with disabilities who have different characteristics. Low intellectual ability affects memory in memorizing dance movements and music tempo. However, the implementation of critical thinking practices, problem-solving, brainstorming with the team and accompanying lecturers, as well as the application of leadership are solution steps in solving problems.
That’s the long process that has been going on for the past year or so, starting from searching for a team and accompanying lecturers, preparing proposals, funding, and preparing progress reports, to qualifying for the 36th National Student Science Week (PIMNAS).
Even though Jhony and the team did not succeed in winning a medal at the prestigious PIMNAS-36 event which was held at Padjadjaran University on 26-30, Jhony managed to achieve an award as PIMNAS-36 Talented Student. Even though they were not successful in donating a medal, the TOK-SHOW OBAH Team also participated in bringing Gadjah Mada University back to winning the overall champion title and escorting the “PIALA ADIKARTA KERTAWIDYA” back home after stopping at another campus.
