PANGKALPINANG -- In commemoration of National Children's Day 2026, PT TIMAH Tbk organized a Seminar on Children with Special Needs (CSN) for teachers and parents under the theme "From Therapy to Independent Learning" at Graha Timah Pangkalpinang on Thursday (July 23, 2026).
The seminar was attended by 145 participants, consisting of parents and teachers from SLBN Pangkalpinang, SLB YPAC Pangkalpinang, Sekolah Alam Pangkalpinang, Sekolah Alam Bangka Belitung, SLBN Sungailiat, SD IT Biruni Sungailiat, and SLB Negeri Koba.
The event featured two speakers: Dr. Rahmadi Iwan Guntoro, Sp.P., a parent of a child with special needs, and Iin Indriyani, a consultant from Rumah Indira. Their presentations were enthusiastically received by the participants.
During the event, PT TIMAH also provided financial assistance for online therapy programs for 10 children with special needs from seven schools across Bangka Belitung.
Fajar Novianti, Head of Administration at the Inclusive Education Unit of the Bangka Belitung Provincial Education Office, praised PT TIMAH's concrete commitment to supporting education for children with special needs.
"We are truly proud to collaborate with PT TIMAH. The company has demonstrated genuine care and commitment to supporting the education of children with special needs. These children are extraordinary, and their educational needs are unique. Supporting them requires the involvement of all stakeholders," she said.
Looking ahead, she expressed hope that initiatives like this would continue and that PT TIMAH could further collaborate in providing therapy programs for children with special needs, especially as the number of children requiring specialized support continues to increase.
"Just recently, in Riau Silip District alone, there were more than 100 children with special needs. This clearly requires the involvement of all parties. We sincerely appreciate PT TIMAH's commitment and hope this program will continue on a sustainable basis," she added.
Rosmeri, one of the parents attending the seminar, said she was grateful for the opportunity to participate, as it provided valuable insights into caring for her child with autism.
"This is my first time attending a seminar like this. We only recently learned that our child has autism. I'm very happy to be here because I've gained many practical insights that I can apply at home, especially in parenting approaches that I may have overlooked before, such as giving hugs and helping my child feel safe," she said.
She also expressed her appreciation to PT TIMAH for equipping parents with the knowledge needed to better support children with special needs.
Warsih Sri Wahyuni, Principal of SLB Negeri Sungailiat, said that seminars like this are highly beneficial for both teachers and parents. According to her, supporting the development of children with special needs cannot rely solely on schools, as parents play an equally important role.
"In addition to inviting teachers, we also encouraged parents to attend because their role at home is essential in supporting the growth and development of children with special needs. We truly appreciate PT TIMAH for initiating and consistently organizing this program," she said.
During the seminar, both speakers delivered a range of informative sessions covering how the brains of children with special needs work, appropriate intervention methods, therapy approaches, and effective parenting strategies.
"I am proud to see a major company that genuinely cares about children with special needs. PT TIMAH has consistently organized this program for four consecutive years, directly benefiting the children themselves. Three years ago, the program focused solely on seminars for teachers and parents. This year, PT TIMAH has expanded its support by providing free online therapy for 10 children with special needs," said Iin Indriyani after delivering her presentation. (*)
