By Hayati Nupus
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AA) – Disability did not stop Andika Indra Saputra, 30, and Agus Rizkianto, 23, from leading an independent life.
Saputra was born with cerebral palsy and Rizkianto is deaf. The two make a living creating Batik designs — a traditional Indonesian dyeing technique.
The two workers employed by Zola Indonesia, a garment factory, showed off their skills to visitors at a batik workshop in Yogyakarta city, 500 kilometers (approx. 310 miles) from the capital Jakarta.
With his left hand, Saputra held a pen-like tool to apply liquid hot wax to a patterned fabric, while Rizkianto created a paddy rice and flower pattern on a scarf.
“This is a square pattern and I want to draw this pattern onto a pillowcase, ” Saputra told Anadolu Agency on Friday.
Both of them joined Zola Indonesia's batik workshop last year. Their work was displayed at a fashion show.
Saputra recalled he was mocked as a child for his disability, something that stopped him from going outdoors to play with friends, and confined him to the house.
He said this experience became his greatest strength and he wanted to prove to the world that disabled people can live independently.
“I want to motivate people with disabilities and their parents that we can also create great things and live independently,” said Saputra.
Last December, he collaborated with Dria Manunggal — a rights group that focuses on disabled people — conveyed their concerns to the regional administration on the lack of designated lanes and worship places for people with disabilities.
Currently, a mosque at Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University is the only worship place in Yogyakarta that has a designated lane for wheelchairs.
Zola Indonesia's owner Lili Wijaya said 15 out of 20 employees at her workshop are disabled people. They handle all the production except coloring.
“They have great passion and enthusiasm to produce artwork,” said Wijaya.
