Asian cities are proliferating, and with that comes an increase in quality of life. It’s reshaping societies and the country’s landscape, notably in Indonesia. A rich culture and tropical oasis with diversity sets Indonesia apart from the rest of Southeast Asia. It’s witnessing a surge in urbanization, booming with skyscrapers and opportunities. Amidst this glamorization of city life, some communities face unique challenges from what others benefit.
Among these is the deaf community experiencing repercussions from urban growth, mainly in Jakarta. The journey of the deaf community in the city is battling discrimination for equal opportunity. This exploration dives into urbanization and its impact on the deaf community in Indonesia.
The Deaf Community in Indonesia
The narrative seems similar for deaf people, an alienated community everywhere. In Indonesia, the deaf community lives throughout the country, with smaller communities of less than 50 in Bali. The deaf community exists as a minority while developing its cultural identity, contributing to the vibrant picture of Indonesian culture.
Despite discrimination and controversy from their inability to fit into the majority, the deaf community is getting a chance to expand their community through urbanization and fostering new connections between the deaf and hearing community.
Rural Living to Sprawling Cities: Bengkala to Jakarta
People imagine Indonesia as only Bali. A quiet island is what people gravitate towards here—coupled with the unique rural life. Before the urbanization boom, life was relatively simple, and it still is. These villages all over the country revolve around agriculture as the sustenance.
Society is primarily collective around the family. Having a solid and tight-knit community is the key. Collectivism is a refreshing way to live apart from the hustle and bustle of life, especially in Indonesian culture. Some of the most significant differences between Southeast Asia and Western cultures are the ideas of materialism and individualistic culture. Other parts of the world and urbanized areas focus on the self and getting ahead versus working and living off the land.
The World Bank reported in 2016 about Indonesia’s exponential growth from rural economy to urbanization. It’s growing faster than most countries in East Asia. Projections say that 68% of the land will be a city by 2025. While this is good news for the country because it means more economic growth, there are downsides. The spending agenda needs to emphasize budgeting for things like infrastructure. Lack of infrastructure puts minority communities at risk of living in poverty. That means no primary access to clean water, reliable electricity, and a proper sewage system.
Urban life can present something promising to deaf people, whereas living in a rural village gives them more challenges. City life has more opportunities for improved living conditions, educational and employment opportunities, and healthcare. It potentially leads to a happier and healthier life, but accessibility is critical.
Accessibility in Jakarta
Jakarta is the largest city in Southeast Asia. It’s a sprawling metropolis with opportunities around every corner. However, accessibility to public facilities still challenges deaf people in Jakarta. For example, a Transportation Law in 2019 created guidelines for new services and assistance to people with disabilities using public transportation, yet there’s no enforcement. Specifically with the bus system, the Jakarta Post interviewed a deaf Jakarta resident, Andrew. He talks about the difficulty of taking a bus with broken parts that signal the bus is stopping. Deaf people can’t hear the PA announcements. That makes the public transportation experience challenging.
There are several ways that the deaf people of the city lack accessibility, including the small number of interpreters in government facilities, hospitals, religious places, and schools. As of 2022, there are 13 schools for deaf students throughout the city. The education system for deaf people is evolving, but there are still faults, from insufficiently trained teachers to surging school fees that make it hard for parents to pay them. It negatively impacts the future of deaf youth.
But for the deaf residents in the city, there are also several organizations and language teachers assisting individuals and families. The Indonesian Disabled Persons Association is an umbrella organization that reaches out to women, children, and the transportation industry to improve the lives of deaf people. They help orphans receive education, medical care, and therapy. In addition, they advocate for women’s rights, specifically who can be the most disadvantaged in society.
Sign Language in Indonesia
Accessibility anywhere, rural or urban, begins with the presence of Sign Language. Indonesia now has two Sign Languages, the Indonesian Sign System (SIBI) and the Indonesian Sign Language (BISINDO). SIBI is a signed version of the Bhasa language. There are also several dialects used on other islands in the country. Bali also has a Sign Language called Kata Kolok, which means deaf talk in Balinese. Only in March 2016 was there no official Sign Language in Indonesia, especially in schools. Deaf students were forced to speak or lip-read due to cultural biases and discrimination.
The Deaf Village: Sign Language Only
For deaf people, village life can be alienating or welcoming. It depends on the perspective of the locals. Let’s learn about this example, Bengkala. This village is two hours away from Bali. The most interesting part about this place is that it has the highest deaf birth rate in the world because of a recessive gene. This village only uses local Kata Kolok Sign Language to communicate. Therefore, the communication barrier makes it hard for tourists to visit. Bengkala is the definition of a collectivist deaf community. The locals say it’s a beautiful place to grow up as individuals who live with people who struggle similarly. It is one of the only places where deafness is normalized.
The Efforts of the Urban Deaf Community
Photo by Febry Arya
A Cafe for Deaf for the Deaf Community: Employment Awareness
Around 74% of the deaf population in Indonesia is unemployed, according to Jakarta Globe. That’s about 22 million people with disabilities. Due to poor statistics, an approximate number of deaf people living in Jakarta is unavailable. The Kopi Tuli cafe, which means “deaf cafe” in Bhasa, was founded by two childhood friends who became deaf at a young age and struggled to find employment. They opened a cafe that exclusively employs deaf staff and teaches customers sign language, bridging the gap between the hearing and deaf communities. Adhika Prakoso, one of the cafe’s founders, hopes to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the deaf community in Jakarta and encourage the government to enforce its policies on disability employment.
News Media outlet for the Deaf in Jakarta
Media is hard to access for deaf people in Indonesia. In 2018 this changed where the We Speak Sign Language Jakarta was born. It is a media outlet catered towards deaf and hard-of-hearing people. The premise of the outlet is to shed a more positive light on the challenges of the deaf community, all in Sign Language. They report on a mix of disability topics and general information.
We Speak Sign Language Jakarta has done wonders for this community that felt left out and frustrated by traditional, hearing media outlets. They feel a sense of relief and happiness to access things that the hearing community can do but with their preferences and needs in mind. More importantly, it creates inclusivity.
We reflected on the challenges the deaf community in Indonesia faces in an urban environment and how they overcome adversity. The government must take more action to achieve inclusivity in the cities, which should bring opportunity to this vulnerable community.
For more on economic and societal impacts on the deaf community, visit https://www.unspokenasl.com/
Thumbnail Credit: Photo by Tom Fisk
