A team of lecturers from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at UNY — namely Isti Yunita, Ph.D., Prof. Jaslin Ikhsan, Dr. Kun Sri Budiasih, Dr. Cahyorini Kusumawardhani, and Sukisman Purtadi, M.Pd. — carried out a community service program titled “Training and Mentoring Life Skills through the Making of Healthy Food for Children with Special Needs” at SLB Bhakti Pertiwi Yogyakarta.

This programme reinforces UNY’s commitment to inclusive and equal education, and the development of practical skills that provide independence for learners.

The programme was designed in response to real challenges faced by students who are deaf and hard of hearing or speech-impaired — including physical and communication accessibility, and limited employment opportunity after graduation. With a vocational approach based on culinary arts, participants were trained to make gluten-free banana cake (Bolu Pisang Gluten Free), a healthy product made from natural ingredients with high nutritional value and economic potential.

The training emphasised direct practice, understanding of the production process, packaging techniques, and exploring product marketing opportunities. Evaluation based on observation of participation, attendance rate, learning enthusiasm, and product assessment showed significant improvement in students’ skills and motivation.

The products produced were declared market-worthy, and the school expressed its appreciation for UNY’s contribution in strengthening a skills-based curriculum at SLB Bhakti Pertiwi.

The programme’s impact went beyond the technical aspects: in addition to strengthening vocational abilities, it encouraged entrepreneurial spirit and opened wider economic opportunities for participants, while reducing access gaps through inclusive education. Outputs included the featured product (Bolu Pisang Gluten Free), a cooperation document between FMIPA UNY and SLB Bhakti Pertiwi, and a scholarly article to be submitted to the Jurnal Pengabdian pada Masyarakat (JPPM) FMIPA UNY.

Planned sustainability includes further training in marketing and entrepreneurship so that participants can develop their economic potential independently.

Through synergy between the higher-education institution and the special-needs school, UNY asserts its role in sustainable development: empowering vulnerable groups, strengthening practical skills, and creating opportunities for all children to actively participate in productive activities.