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or people with autism, finding education and jobs that accommodate their needs is still very difficult. However, several groups have taken the initiative to train and employ people with the developmental disorder.

Dewi Semarabhawa, who has an autistic son in his early 20s, decided to establish a workshop and training institution called I’m Star House in Bintaro, South Tangerang, Banten. Realizing her son’s limitations for gaining employment, she and other parents with autistic children began the initiative to help young adults with autism become independent.

The facility teaches 12 students, aged 18 to 31, how to pack snacks, create wedding souvenirs and prepare goody bags, among other things.

“For now, we know it is less likely for companies to hire autistic individuals,” Dewi said.

Autism is a disorder characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors and speech. The Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry refers to data from the Incidence and Prevalence of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) report, which estimates that there are 2.4 million people on the autism spectrum in Indonesia, with 500 new cases being reported every year.

As autism is a spectrum disorder, it affects people differently. Many people with autism have average or above average intellectual abilities.

Dewi said autistic individuals were not less capable than other people. They can acquire new skills and can handle repetitive and detail-oriented tasks well.

As companies still do not understand their needs and how to support workers with autism, underemployment and unemployment among autistic individuals remain an untouched problem, said Marthella Rivera, a disability specialist at the National Development Planning Ministry.

Many try to create and sell their own products. However, many autistic individuals face challenges marketing their products. Most orders come from their closest circle of family members and friends.

“Once a product enters the market, it has to compete with other products,” said Marthella. She encouraged autistic individuals to outdo other competitors, show their uniqueness, read the demand better and target the right customers in order to stand out in the competitive market.

Product marketing was difficult for disabled people, Ariani Soekanwo, chairwoman of the Election Committee for the Disabled, said. “Good marketing is necessary, because if the products are sold like any other product, it will be difficult,” she explained. “They should also include a special label that reads ‘made by a person with autism’.”

Several educational institutions have opened vocational classes for people with autism to equip them with various skills. Educational institution for people with autism the London School Beyond Academy (LSBA) offers a one-year vocational training program on screen printing and crafting. The products made by students are sold at bazaars or via orders.

For now, LSBA director Chrisdina Wempi said LSBA was focused mostly on proving that autistic people could be productive and that their products were useful.

Jakarta has yet to survey the number of people in the city with autism. Nevertheless, autistic individuals are usually recorded by their educational institutions.

LSBA, located in Central Jakarta, has at least 76 students with autism. Other educational institutions that offer classes for autistic individuals include Jakarta State Polytechnic in Depok, West Java, and Lentera Asa in Bogor, West Java.

In almost every public elementary school in Jakarta that she had visited, Chrisdina said she found children with special needs that were undiagnosed.

“I get it if companies prefer to hire workers without disabilities,” Chrisdina said. “But maybe several years in the future, there will be a lot more opportunities [for autistic individuals].”

Chrisdina expressed hope that by purchasing their products, the public would see the skills of autistic individuals. She said when more doors eventually opened for them, they could become financially independent.” (stu)