Empowerment of People with Disabilities in Surabaya City: A Study on Tiara Handicraft

The limitations experienced by people with disabilities give rise to a negative self-image in the community mindset. They are seen as weak and unproductive human beings. This condition causes difficulty for people with disabilities to find work to meet their needs. This study explores a microenterprise named Tiara Handicraft as an antithesis to the negative mindset to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The method used in this study is qualitative research with data collection techniques including interviews and documentation. Finally, for data analysis, we use interactive analysis. The findings based on the field research show Tiara Handicraft as a textile and souvenir processing business that empowers people with disabilities as employees. The people with disabilities are empowered according to their potential and interests in a variety of positions ranging from production to marketing. The products produced have reached international markets such as America and Asia, which is evidence that the works of people with disabilities are indeed of high quality. Due to its commitment and success in empowering people with disabilities, Tiara Handicraft received various awards from various parties, both at the levels of national and abroad.