Strengthening Social Rehabilitation Policies for Persons with Disabilities through Inclusive and Equitable Services

Abstract

This study examines how social rehabilitation policy for persons with disabilities can be strengthened through inclusive and equitable services. A qualitative approach with an embedded case study design was adopted to capture policy-to-practice dynamics, as inclusion and equity are shaped by institutional routines, service interactions, and interagency coordination. The research was conducted in the Bandung Metropolitan Area, Indonesia, selected for its diverse service capacity and dense network of governmental and non-governmental providers, enabling analysis of territorial variation and coordination challenges. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews, limited non-participant observations, and document analysis, involving 28 purposively selected informants representing policymakers, frontline workers, disability organizations, persons with disabilities, and caregivers. Findings show that inclusion is frequently treated administratively as coverage, while service users experience exclusion through inaccessible information, inconsistent communication accommodations, and high administrative burdens. Equity is weakened when uniform eligibility rules ignore unequal conversion factors such as poverty, stigma, transport, and navigation capacity. Fragmented referrals and person-dependent coordination further undermine service continuity. The study recommends institutionalizing accessibility standards, reducing administrative burdens, implementing integrated case management and referral tracking, and adopting equity-sensitive resourcing and monitoring focused on participation outcomes.