Page 2 - Mainstreamer Volume 1 Issue 2 Feb 2023

MESSAGE FROM THE
CHIEF EDITOR
Active Citizenship and Inclusive Growth in
Southeast Asian
ontemporary philosophical and moral
debates invoke three paradigms of life.
CFirst, life is meaningful when the ecosystem
fosters the greatest happiness for the greatest
number of people; second, when it respects
human freedom of choice; and third, when it
recognizes the importance of the ultimate goal
(telos) of a good life. We believe that active
citizenship can add more nuance to such debates.
Additionally, in religious societies, the meaning
of the world beyond death by approaching the
Almighty is essential.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) advocates for inclusive, accessible,
sustainable, and rights-based transformation in
all dimensions and sectors throughout the world.
Disability must not be used as an excuse to justify
a lack of access to development and the realization
of human rights. The SDG framework includes
seven targets that directly address individuals
with disabilities in the areas of education, growth,
employment, inequality, human settlement
accessibility, and data collecting and monitoring of
the SDGs.
Therefore, disability inclusive development
should be an integral component of nation building
and progress. Inclusivity, however, requires the
active participation of individuals with disabilities
as citizens of their country. We have chosen the
theme “Active citizenship: inclusive growth in the
Southeast Asia” for Mainstreamer e-Magazine
Vol. 1, Issue 2 (December 2022). Our goal is to
stimulate and promote a critical discourse on the
active citizenship of individuals with disabilities
and the inclusive growth of a nation.
Makmor Tumin
This edition addresses several perspectives,
including the integration of visually impaired
students into higher education, the challenge to
obtain a quality employment, and the need for
reliable and comparative data. It also features
essays on the lives and challenges of individuals
with learning disabilities in ASEAN countries such
as Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The autistic
community is often treated as ‘invisible citizens’ in
these countries.
The magazine’s specific objectives are as
follows:
a. To provide a platform for individuals with
disabilities to voice their ideas and concerns.
b. To enable individuals with disabilities to use
their skills and talents in electronic media.
c. To recognize the knowledge, skills, and talents
of individuals with disabilities in order to
promote and improve their employability in the
labor market.
d. To provide individuals with disabilities and those
interested in disability issues the opportunity to
earn income through honorariums.
UM Press is the publisher of this magazine. We
would like to thank the ASEAN University Network
on Disability and Public Policy (AUN-DPPnet) for
funding our initiative.