People with disabilities are vulnerable to being infected with the COVID-19 virus. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on human life, including the health of people with disabilities. The government makes various policies and programs in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but their implementation is still challenging for people with disabilities. This community service program was carried out in collaboration with Mitra Sejahtera Disability Empowerment Center (PPDMS), an organization empowering people with disabilities in Gunungkidul Regency. Empowerment of people with disabilities was carried out using 'community control' principle in which the community has the control in making decisions regarding the problems they face so that they can adopt a ‘new normal’ lifestyle because of their knowledge. The principle of 'community control' was applied by providing education about COVID-19 situation in Indonesia, the symptoms and signs of COVID-19 infection, wash hands, proper cough etiquette, how to use masks, food and lifestyle that can prevent COVID-19 transmission, as well as about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination. Education was given with a presentation followed by discussion. Evaluation was carried out quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative evaluation using pretest and post-test showed an increase in knowledge.  Qualitative evaluation using FGD indicated changes in attitudes and behavior that support the adoption of ‘new normal’ lifestyle to prevent transmission of COVID-19. People with disabilities who have received education disseminate the information obtained to other people with disabilities, resulted in multiplication effect of this empowerment program for people with disabilities.

Persons with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have disabilities due to disorders of the musculoskeletal system that were often accompanied by various other symptoms with different degrees of severity, such as seizures, intellectual disabilities, bone deformities, learning disorders, etc. Those people have a higher risk of malnutrition and seizures, especially children with CP. Mitra Ananda, an organization of parents of persons with CP that aimed to empower families of persons with CP Gunungkidul Regency. Understanding of a problem, knowledge of the solution and confidence to implement the solution are the keys to create an empowered community that will later become a driving force to empower others in health issues. Education on nutrition and seizure control was delivered through presentations and discussions to the members of Mitra Ananda Organization. Program evaluation was carried out quantitatively and qualitatively. A questionnaire for the quantitative method was developed to assess caregivers' knowledge on nutrition. The assessment results presented increased knowledge of the beneficiaries. Focus group discussions and interviews showed changes in attitudes and behavior on nutrition and seizure control. Mitra Ananda members who were also caregivers of children with CP shared the newly acquired knowledge to other members. In addition to the multiplication effect, it also creates a community that becomes a driving force to empower others.

Merebaknya pandemi covid-19 telah menimbulkan dampak pada semua aspek kehidupan, bukan hanya dari sisi kesehatan namun juga telah mengganggu perekonomian, terutama menurunnya volume penjualan. Salah satu kelompok masyarakat yang terdampak oleh pandemi covid-19 adalah keluarga anggota organisasi Mitra Ananda yaitu organisasi orang tua dari anak-anak dengan disabilitas (cerebral palsy, autisme dan down syndrome) khususnya yang berbasis di Kabupaten Gunungkidul. Selama ini, Mitra Ananda telah menghasilkan produk kerajinan dari kain perca yang membuat “keset”. Program ini dilaksanakan pada bulan Maret – Juli 2021 di Kabupaten Gunung Kidul, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Metode yang digunakan adalah pendampingan praktik pemasaran melalui platform digital dan pelatihan akuntansi dasar. Hasil dari pelatihan diharapkan Mitra Ananda dapat melakukan pemasaran dan pengelolaan keuangan dengan lebih baik.