Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Keterbatasan penyandang disabilitas menjadi masalah utama yang menghambat mereka baik dari segi mobilitas maupun interaksi. Hal tersebut juga tersebut juga diperkuat oleh pandangan masyarakat umum yang terkadang menganggap lemah mereka. Berdasarkan realita tersebut, Youthid Foundation hadir untuk memenuhi kebutuhan penyandang disabilitas. Salah satunya dengan mengadakan program yang berkaitan dengan pemberdayaan disabilitas. Namun, dalam merelisasikan pemberdayaan, Youthid Foundation tentunya mengadakan kerja sama dengan pihak eksternal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kondisi penyandang disabilitas khususnya di Banda Aceh dan mengetahui sejauh mana strategi pemberdayaan Youthid Foundation berdampak terhadap disabilitas. Secara teoritis, penelitian ini menggunakan teori peran Jim Ife yang menyoroti empat peran utama dalam pemberdayaan masyarakat yaitu peran fasilitatif, peran edukatif, peran represantasional dan peran teknis, asumsi teori digunakan untuk menganalisa peran Youthid Foundation dalam menerapkan pemberdayaan. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif. Dengan sumber data primer berupa wawancara mendalam dan observasi dengan pihak Youthid Foundation serta penyandang disabilitas, dan data sekunder meliputi penelitian terdahulu dalam bentuk jurnal maupun skripsi. Teknik analisa data mengikuti model miles dan Huberman dengan reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Youthid Foundation berkomitmen menjalankan masing-masing peran terhadap pemberdayaan disabilitas sesuai dengan asumsi dari teori yang digunakan. Kemudian juga ditemukan akses program terhadap masing-masing disabilitas yang tidak merata. Karena program terhadap disabilitas terkadang hanya menyasar disabilitas fisik saja. Sedangkan kelompok disabilitas lainnya tidak dilibatkan Sehingga terkesan menyudutkan sebelah pihak. Sehingga mengindikasikan bahwa antara disabilitas juga memiliki masalah terkait peneriman program. Penelitian merekomendasikan pihak Youthid Foundation melakukan pemetaan secara mendalam terhadap potensi penyandang disaabilitas serta tetap konsisten dalam melakukan edukasi mengenai pemberdayaan disabilitas.
Kata Kunci: disabilitas, Youthid Foundation, pemberdayaan, program.

The limitations faced by persons with disabilities constitute a major issue that hinders them in terms of both mobility and social interaction. This situation is further reinforced by societal perceptions that often regard them as weak. In response to this reality, Youthid Foundation was established to address the needs of persons with disabilities, one of which is through the implementation of disability empowerment programs. However, in carrying out these empowerment initiatives, Youthid Foundation collaborates with various external stakeholders. This study aims to examine the condition of persons with disabilities, particularly in Banda Aceh, and to assess the extent to which Youthid Foundation’s empowerment strategies have impacted people with disabilities. Theoretically, this research employs Jim Ife’s role theory, which highlights four primary roles in community empowerment: the facilitative role, the educational role, the representational role, and the technical role. These theoretical assumptions are used to analyze the role of Youthid Foundation in implementing empowerment programs. This research adopts a descriptive qualitative approach. Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations involving Youthid Foundation representatives and persons with disabilities. Secondary data were obtained from previous studies, including journal articles and undergraduate theses. Data analysis followed the Miles and Huberman model, consisting of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that Youthid Foundation is committed to fulfilling each role in disability empowerment in accordance with the assumptions of the theory applied in this study. The research also reveals unequal access to programs among different disability groups, as empowerment initiatives often focus primarily on individuals with physical disabilities. Meanwhile, other disability groups are not adequately involved, creating the impression of unequal treatment. This suggests that disparities also exist among disability groups regarding access to and acceptance of empowerment programs. The study recommends that Youthid Foundation conduct a comprehensive mapping of the potential and needs of persons with disabilities and remain consistent in providing education and awareness regarding disability empowerment. Keywords: disability, Youthid Foundation, Empowerment, program.