Last Update: 28 January 2025
For ten years following a motorcycle accident at the age of 23, which left her paralysed from the chest down, Sri Lestari experienced a period of significant challenges. Confined to her home, she grappled with feelings of isolation, limited productivity, and depression. However, her life took a transformative turn when she acquired a specially modified motorcycle that enabled her to regain a sense of independence and freedom through wheelchair accessibility.
“When I got my modified motorcycle, my life changed,” says Sri Lestari the 39-year-old, who relished the freedom of being able to “go everywhere by myself” again after more than a decade of being stuck at home. But she’s not content to keep that freedom to herself. She wants others to see that this is possible for them, too.
Sri Lestari embarked on a remarkable journey, traversing 1,212 kilometres across Indonesia over three weeks. Her route took her from the bustling capital of Jakarta to the idyllic island of Bali. This extraordinary feat served as a powerful statement: a testament to the fact that individuals with disabilities in Indonesia can indeed live fulfilling lives characterised by freedom, independence, productivity, and happiness.
“This trip aimed to demonstrate to both Indonesians and the global community that a disability does not equate to a life devoid of purpose,” Sri Lestari explained. ‘Many individuals with disabilities in Indonesia face significant barriers to leaving their homes due to limited access to transportation, particularly public transportation options
Sri Lestari 1212 KMS in Three Weeks
Using her own story as an inspiration for others is what Sri Lestari does daily. “I spend my days visiting people with disabilities who just stay at home,” says Sri, who in 2009 joined United Cerebral Palsy, Wheels for Humanity as a social worker. “They are surprised that I can live independently, go everywhere by myself on my modified motorcycle and work a normal job. They are happy when they see me, because I am ‘diffable’ (differently-abled), and I am a woman and I can work. I really want to share my experience — how I can be independent and healthy as a “diffabled” paraplegic.”
What most inspired us was Sri Lestari’s dream to be free – a dream she refused to let die during those ten years she was stuck at home.
Help Sri Lestari continue on her inspiring journey as a social worker by supporting the organisation she works for, UCP Wheels for Humanity.
Congrats Sri Lestari on your amazing journey!
Visit her Facebook page
*Combined sources/credit Huffingtonposts
