Peran Komunitas Mitra Masyarakat Inklusif (MMI) dalam Peningkatan Wirausaha Penyandang Disabilitas di Kota Bengkulu

This study aims to describe the role of the Mitra Masyarakat Inklusif (MMI) in empowering persons with disabilities through entrepreneurship programs in Bengkulu City, Indonesia. A qualitative descriptive method was employed, with the research conducted at the MMI office. Informants included community leaders, managers of the MMI Difabelpreneur Center (DCM), and community members with disabilities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, and document analysis, and were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model, comprising data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that MMI plays a significant role in economic empowerment by establishing DCM business units, including laundry services, Café Pojok PeDe, snack production, eco-print fabrics, and Kopi PeDe. These initiatives demonstrate the potential of persons with disabilities to be productive economic actors. Furthermore, MMI organizes skill development training to enhance entrepreneurial capacity and promote economic equality. These efforts not only improve economic well-being but also reshape societal and governmental perceptions of the capabilities of persons with disabilities, fostering greater inclusivity and equal rights in economic participation. Abstrak Penelitian ini bertujuan mendeskripsikan peran Komunitas Mitra Masyarakat Inklusif (MMI) dalam pemberdayaan ekonomi penyandang disabilitas melalui program wirausaha di Kota Bengkulu. Penelitian menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif dengan informan meliputi pengurus komunitas, pengelola Difabelpreneur Center MMI (DCM), dan anggota komunitas penyandang disabilitas. Data diperoleh melalui wawancara semi-terstruktur, observasi non-partisipan, dan studi dokumentasi, lalu dianalisis menggunakan model Miles dan Huberman. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa MMI berperan dalam pemberdayaan ekonomi penyandang disabilitas melalui unit usaha DCM, seperti Laundry, Café Pojok PeDe, Cemilan Keripik, Kain Ecoprint, dan Kopi PeDe. Program ini membuktikan bahwa penyandang disabilitas mampu menjadi pelaku ekonomi produktif. Selain itu, MMI menyelenggarakan pelatihan keterampilan untuk meningkatkan kapasitas usaha dan mendorong kesetaraan hak ekonomi. Upaya ini tidak hanya meningkatkan kesejahteraan, tetapi juga mengubah persepsi masyarakat terhadap kemampuan penyandang disabilitas.