Today, attention towards financial literacy has increasingly grown, with an awareness that it is important for making sound financial decisions and securing a stable future. However, attempts to increase financial literacy still face various challenges, especially among certain community groups such as people with disabilities, who often lack adequate access to financial education.

A survey conducted by the Menembus Batas Community in January 2024 revealed that more than half of people with disabilities have never heard of or studied financial literacy, even though they recognize its importance in their daily life. This circumstance indicates the need for collective efforts to expand access and ensure that all individuals, including those with special needs, can manage their finances well and independently.

To address this gap, OCBC launched an educational program titled “Everyone can be #FinanciallyFit: Disabilities Shining Without Limits” on June 20 in Jakarta. The program is designed to provide broader access to financial knowledge and resources for people with disabilities. Through collaboration with non-profit organizations and communities of people with disabilities, this initiative offers education and facilitates a friendly and supportive learning environment for them.

Innovative approaches, such as the development of Ruangmenyala.com, a disability-friendly digital platform, are tangible proof of how financial literacy can be delivered in an engaging and inclusive manner. Ruangmenyala.com not only provides educational classes and direct guidance but also ensures that all content is easily accessible through the support of technology, such as sign language translation and subtitles.

“We believe that financial literacy does not always have to be boring. Through Ruangmenyala.com, people with disabilities can embark on their #FinanciallyFit journey through a series of workshops, webinars, and educational materials specifically designed to meet their needs,” said Amir Widjaya, Executive Director of Marketing & Lifestyle Business at OCBC. Ruangmenyala.com has become an ecosystem supporting more than 141,577 members by providing educational classes, guidance from Financial Coaches, and free access to Financial Check-Ups and education on various financial products.

In this context, the successful implementation and reception of this program not only reflect a commitment to improving financial literacy among people with disabilities but also strengthen their integration into the broader society. The presence of figures such as Angkie Yudistia, Special Staff to the President of Indonesia, and Dante Rigmalia from the National Disability Commission (KND) at the events demonstrated strong support for this effort.

ID COMM’s role in communicating and promoting this initiative is crucial to spreading messages about the importance of financial literacy, and moreover, financial inclusion. Through its communication expertise, ID COMM has not only played a major role in educating about financial literacy, but also in building a higher awareness and a broader support toward financial inclusion, including towards people with disabilities.

 

Author: Agil Asmoaji
Editor: Yulia Maroe