An’ngam Khafifi

Sociology Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Jember, Jember, East Java, Indonesia 

Widowati

Sociology Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Jember, Jember, East Java, Indonesia   

Dewi Ariyanti Soffi

Science Plus Baitul Qur’an Sambirejo, Sragen, Central Java, Indonesia

Utami Dyah Sulistyaningrum

Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Afdil Hafidh

Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia  

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19184/e-sospol.v13i1.60048

ABSTRACT 

Despite national and global commitments like the SDGs and Indonesian Law No. 8 of 2016, securing decent and inclusive work for persons with disabilities remains challenging. Over 7 million employed persons with disabilities in Indonesia are concentrated in the vulnerable informal sector. This study investigates the resilience and social capital development among deaf workers at the Mute Area Cafe in Wonosobo Regency, an empowerment initiative by the Dena Upakara Foundation, using the Social Model of Disability lens. A phenomenological qualitative approach was utilized to deeply explore the lived experiences and meaning of work for the deaf employees. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with the cafe's manager/mediator and participant observation. The data was then analyzed using thematic analysis. The Dena Upakara Foundation successfully operationalized the Social Model of Disability, positioning the Mute Area Cafe as an adaptive, inclusive economic space that fosters skill and employment for deaf workers. This initiative represents an emancipatory praxis that shifts power dynamics from dependence to empowerment. However, the primary challenge is not the workers’ capacity, but persistent structural barriers rooted in societal stigma. Informant statements revealed that customer reluctance, often stemming from "pity," directly restricts the cafe's economic growth. The Mute Area Cafe demonstrates that resilience and independence for persons with disabilities are built through social collaboration, an adaptive work environment, and strong social capital. Achieving genuine inclusive work requires not only affirmative policies but a fundamental social shift to dismantle structural barriers and cultural stigma. True inclusion demands "adjusting" the system to accommodate societal diversity, rather than expecting persons with disabilities to conform to an uninclusive system.     

Keywords: Informal Employment, Deaf Workers, Inclusive Work, Social Capital

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