Jakarta’s free school shuttle service for students with disabilities, known as SAPA DISA, has been named among the top 10 nominees for the 2026 Jakarta Innovation Award (JIA). Launched by the Jakarta Transportation Agency, SAPA DISA provides safe, comfortable, accessible, and free transportation for students with disabilities. The point-to-point service picks students up from their homes or agreed locations and takes them to school before bringing them home after classes. The service currently operates for nine special-needs schools and serves around 150 students each day.
Head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Budi Awaluddin, said the recognition provides both appreciation and motivation to improve transportation services for people with disabilities. He emphasized that SAPA DISA was created in response to community needs and is intended to ensure students can reach school safely and comfortably. The buses are equipped with accessibility features including chair lifts, wheelchair restraints, guide blocks, handrails, non-slip floors, emergency buttons, seat belts, closed-circuit television (CCTV), Global Positioning System (GPS), air conditioning, and visual and audio information systems. The program is also supported through cooperation between transportation, education, and social agencies, special-needs schools, disability communities, and parents.
The service is expected to make a direct difference for students and their families, particularly those who live far from their schools. Students can arrive more quickly and be better prepared for their lessons, while parents can reduce their transportation expenses and gain greater peace of mind. One student from SLB Pembina Tingkat Nasional, Azka, said the service makes traveling to school more enjoyable and helps ensure he arrives on time. Parents have also welcomed the service as a practical solution for their children’s daily transportation needs.
Budi said SAPA DISA’s inclusion among the top 10 JIA 2026 nominees reflects recognition of a public service innovation that provides direct and sustainable benefits. He added that the program supports Jakarta’s broader commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable transportation system. The city government aims to ensure that no child misses out on education simply because of limited transportation access. The recognition is therefore expected to encourage further improvements to accessible public services for students with disabilities.
Alexander Jason – Redaksi
