BBC News Indonesia
·Aug 2026
Social media: The story of a deafblind woman who became a social media content creator — “Disability is not a joke or a tragedy”
Sianna, a 41-year-old deafblind woman in Jakarta, is learning digital storytelling and photography so she can depict her daily life and challenge misconceptions about multiple disabilities. With support from her husband and interpreters, she creates content while shopping and highlights barriers involving communication, public transport, building design, markets and digital tools. Fellow participant Rimba Damenna Manik plans to use content to discuss disability access to law after an online fraud case was poorly handled by police. Katha Kita and the Himpunan Wanita Disabilitas Indonesia argue that disabled women should tell their own stories rather than be portrayed through pity, exceptionalism or “disability porn.” The article also points to gaps in accessible education, employment, technology, public services and legal protection, emphasizing that disability is not a tragedy or spectacle and that equality requires removing social and physical barriers.