Could you introduce yourself and share your role at the university?  

I am Doctor Hanung Triyoko. I earned my first degree in English Literature from Gadjah Mada University, and I pursued my Master’s degree in Linguistics also from Gadjah Mada University. And I was very lucky I was one of the Australian Overseas [scholars]. I studied Educational Leadership and Management, a Master’s program at La Trobe University, Melbourne, and I graduated in 2009.

Could you describe your limitations?

My limitation is about mobility. I cannot work as fast as ordinary people do. And also recently, because I got a stroke attack, it made me very difficult to control my right body part.

What inspired you to pursue an academic career path?

I want to inspire as many students as possible about different cultures abroad and also different experiences in studying. I am proud to share with all of you that there are more than 30 of my students who studied abroad in America, in Australia, India, and even in the United Kingdom and also in New Zealand.

Can you describe your experience working at the university as a person with a disability?

About my experience working at the university to be honest, I don’t have a serious problem. Because when people work at the university, people expect their academic ability. But in terms of moving from one place to another, I have a problem, especially when I have to go upstairs.

Can you share a positive moment when you felt genuinely supported or included?

I am a person with mobility disability. I feel very positive when I am appointed as a lecturer at the university it is a very good start. Because I know that in a university, people value thinking ability more, not mobility. So I have that capacity to think, to teach, and so I don’t think I will have serious problems teaching at a university.

Could you share your biggest achievement, and why?

My biggest achievement as a teacher can be this: when my students inform me that they earn they get a scholarship to study abroad. Wow, amazing. I always feel very happy. I want to inspire as many students as possible by telling them a lot about different cultures.

What personal strengths or strategies help you navigate challenges in university life?

My personal strength in coping with the challenges of university life is my exercising of open-mindedness. And also, I like innovation. That is why with artificial intelligence and with my current conditions of disability I don’t have quite a serious problem, because I use artificial intelligence for teaching, and I use the internet a lot for teaching. For example, I use Google Classroom and many other internet-facilitated learning tools. The key point is: be ready to learn more and more every time.

Who or what has played the biggest role in supporting your journey?

Other things that always support me and give me big support in my career for example, the Government of Australia gave me a scholarship for two years to study a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Management at La Trobe from 2007 to 2009, and I am very thankful for that. And until today, I am still having a very close relationship with the Australian government through many of their alumni assistance programs, and I always stay informed through that program.

What changes would make universities more accessible and inclusive for disabled individuals?

If I can give any advice for universities to be more accessible to everyone first of all, look at abilities, not disabilities. Because if given a chance, people can do their best with their abilities. And if a university sees students with disabilities, be ready to help them in any way. For example, open a Disability Assistance Office like what this university UGM organizes. So I think it is time for all universities to have their own Unit Layanan Disabilitas. Be more ready with innovation, with the use of technology, because technology is there to help us, to help people do our job better and more efficiently.

What advice would you give to other disabled staff pursuing an academic career?

We are expected to do more with our thinking ability and cognitive capacity that is a good choice for pursuing a career in the academic field. But to survive in the current academic field, be ready to learn more and more. Equip ourselves with technology, because with technology in my case, for example I can be anyone I want to be. I can be like Spider-Man, hanging from one building to another, making yourself able to innovate with the current challenges and needs for study in the current situation.