Sunny Kids Launches BIRU Identification Mark, Promotes a More Inclusive and Empathetic Public Space

Photo: Dok. Sunny Kids

JAKARTA - Not all disabilities can be recognized by the naked eye. Behind someone who looks healthy and is able to carry out activities as usual, there may be conditions such as autism, ADHD and other developmental disorders as well as other conditions that require understanding and support from the surrounding environment.

Departing from these needs, Sunny Kids launched BIRU, an identity card in the form of a blue lanyard designed to help people with hidden disabilities get a better understanding when they are in public spaces.

Blue features a white heart symbol as a representation of empathy and concern, as well as an "X" symbol that symbolizes conditions that are not visible but real and require special attention. The blue color was chosen because it represents calmness, security, and trust. The back of BIRU also contains the child's name, emergency contact, and the child's condition.

"Currently, there are still many hidden disabilities who have difficulty in public spaces and not only because of the condition they have, but also because of the lack of understanding from the surrounding environment. Therefore, we launched the Blue Card initiative with the aim that people in their surrounding environment can better understand the conditions they have. Blue Card is not just because the card is blue, but BLUE is an abbreviation of Inclusive Assistance in Public Spaces," said Christina Onasis, Director of Sunny Kids, in her statement, Monday, June 8.

Unlike physical disabilities that are generally easy to recognize, people with hidden disabilities often face challenges because their conditions are not directly visible.

"It is not uncommon for children with autism or sensory disorders to be considered naughty when experiencing sensory overload in public places or individuals with ADHD can be judged as undisciplined, while those with anxiety disorders are often considered excessive or uncooperative. I also emphasize that the main goal of BIRU is not to get special treatment, but to build awareness that everyone has different needs," he added again.

Inviting Various Parties to Collaborate

As part of this inclusivity movement, Sunny Kids is also actively inviting various parties to participate, including transportation operators, airlines, shopping centers, public facilities, educational institutions, and private companies.

Through cross-sector collaboration, Sunny Kids hopes that Indonesia will have more public spaces that are friendly to people with hidden disabilities.

"We believe that big changes can start with simple steps. Sometimes what is needed is not complicated help, but understanding, patience, and empathy. BIRU is a small symbol to remind us that not all challenges can be seen by the eyes," he concluded.