Richard Kennedy: Connecting Evidence and Advocacy in Disability Rights

As he pursues his further education in disability rights, Richard Kennedy is keeping in mind the bigger picture of advocacy, research and equality of people with disability in Indonesia.

In 2019, Kennedy, who is legally blind, graduated as the top student from the Faculty of Law at Soegijapranata Catholic University in Semarang, Central Java, During his studies, he became interested in the legal rights of people with disability. In 2023, he pursued a Masters of Disability Practice and Leadership at Flinders University with Australia Awards support.

"When I was studying law, I was initially interested in crimes against humanity and the environment. When I was working on my bachelor's thesis, with a discussion about surrogacy and women's rights over their bodies, I began to be interested in exploring the rights of the body with a disability," Richard explained.

In 2023, he participated with the Indonesian Mental Health Association (IMHA) in filing a judicial review relating to the guardianship system for persons with psychosocial disability. Under this system, people with disability could lose their rights to make decisions about their own lives. A guardian would be appointed to make decisions about where they live, how their finances would be managed and medical issues.

"The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia has decided to grant part of the Material,” Richard said. “So, there is a shift in the policy on the guardianship system for persons with mental disability in Indonesia. Guardianship will become optional and not mandatory."

While his work was already helping to make progress in Indonesia, Richard was looking for further study to enrich him professionally and personally as well. "Australia has a leading disability sector. And Flinders University has the best disability course. That's why Australia and Flinders became my top choice," Richard said.

Discovering a Supportive Study Environment

In Adelaide, Richard has found adequate public infrastructure for disabilities and accessible resources for study. For example, the Adaptive Technology Room, provided by Flinders University Disability Services, contains height-adjustable desks and computers equipped with various assistive technologies.

Then, there are sensory spaces, the student association’s disabilities space, and library services. Flinders University has a Disability Action Plan to support students and staff in developing an inclusive environment. "Like when I was working on this thesis, many of the books I needed were old books from the 1970s. So, the library helped me to convert them," Richard said, explaining that he needed the material converted to Word documents compatible with a screen reader.

The thesis Richard is currently working on is related to legal capacity for individuals with psychosocial disabilities in Indonesia. His paper, Narratives on Guardianship in Indonesia: Recognising the Voices of People with Psychosocial Disabilities, was presented at the Leeds Disability Studies Conference 2024.

"A direct impact will undoubtedly improve the system with evidence-based research. For long-term effects, the disability movement is not enough from the grassroots; it must have high-quality research as a basis."

Recognition for Academic and Community Leadership

Richard has become actively involved in the university community, serving as president of the Flinders University Students with Disabilities Association and as coordinator of public relations and events for the Flinders University Indonesian Students Association. He has also been a generous contributor, submitting ideas for the university’s 2024-2027 Disability Action Plan.

During his first month in the country, he was surprised to encounter Australians who were fluent in Indonesian. Inspired by the language learners, he became an ILLA (Indonesian Language Learning Ambassadors) representative.

Richard is also a recipient of the Allison Sudrajat Prize, awarded to Australia Awards in Indonesia Master's scholars. The prize supports activities that enhance scholar’s ability to apply new knowledge, strengthen networks, lead collaborative efforts, and deepen their connection with Australia.

"Through my studies, I want to raise the voices of my friends with disability so they can be heard. Currently, disability knowledge is still dominated by the West. Not only Indonesia, but Southeast Asia is still lagging behind," said Richard, who will join the Participation and Inclusion in Action Conference in Singapore in November 2024.

At the recent StudyAdelaide Awards, Richard won not one, but four awards. He was named International Student of the Year 2024, won the Academic Excellence Award (Post-Graduate), the Peer Support Award, and Community Engagement Award. Richard was acknowledged as a tireless advocate for students with disabilities, and for his activities to connect with the community, including through Indonesian language learning.

To cap a remarkable year in Australia, he received the Chancellor’s Letter of Commendation for Academic Excellence from Flinders University’s Chancellor for achieving a high Grade Point Average (GPA).

"What I’ve learned from Australia is that even though the infrastructure for disabilities is well established, advocacy efforts never stop. The needs of the community move with the times and continue to develop,” Richard said.

“Considering this, the diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Australia are crucial for elevating advocacy for disabilities to a new level.”