Lely Hiryanto Uses Technology to Support Children with Disabilities
For Lely Hiryanto, having the opportunity to study overseas has not only given her greater knowledge, confidence and a broader network, but also a responsibility to give back to the community.
Drawing on her expertise in computer software, Lely has developed an application that is transforming the lives of children with autism and has the potential to help other groups in the future.
In 2004, Lely received the Australian Development Scholarship, after being inspired by a lecturer who had studied abroad. She spent two years studying a postgraduate diploma and a masters degree in computer science at Curtin University.
Her research on computer networking and communication systems broadened her technical perspective and gave her the chance to publish in an international journal.
Lely adapted quickly to the Australian learning environment, which emphasised self-directed study. Long hours in the library, intensive coursework and extensive writing assignments taught her independence and perseverance. She also learned the value of community, receiving strong support from the Indonesian student network in Perth.
‘When I arrived, I didn’t know anyone. But I was immediately welcomed by the Indonesian community in Perth. They helped me with everything from accommodation to grocery shopping. That support made a big difference,’ she said.
Advancing Knowledge and Building Networks
Although she had planned to work in the industry after graduation, Lely found she enjoyed teaching and stayed in academia. More than a decade after her masters, she returned to Curtin University in 2018 to begin her PhD in computer science with an Australia Awards Scholarship.
She was supervised by the same academic who had guided her masters research, providing continuity and trust. Her doctoral research focused on software-defined networking, a field that shifts network control from hardware to software, enabling more flexible and efficient optimisation.
‘Optimisation was completely new to me, and it was difficult at first. But I took it as a challenge. In the end, I was able to produce publications from my dissertation and those papers continue to shape how I guide my students today,’ she explained.
The PhD journey was not without difficulties. In her first year, Lely’s father passed away, and she had a serious accident that left her with a broken leg. Later, the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays and isolation. Despite these setbacks, she stayed focused.
‘My family was my strongest support system. And I always remembered that the scholarship was funded by taxpayers. I didn’t want to waste the opportunity,’ she said.
Translating Research into Inclusive Technology
Lely’s commitment to community service has grown alongside her academic career. Since returning to Indonesia in 2022, she has poured her knowledge into initiatives that benefit children with disabilities and their families.
One contribution is Vicara[1], short for Virtually Interactive Communication and Reading Aid. The free, mobile-based application is designed for autistic children with communication difficulties.
When children tap on picture cards, speech is generated through the app. For children who cannot express themselves verbally, this provides a way to communicate basic needs such as hunger, thirst, or the desire to play.
The project was developed in collaboration with Dr Hersinta,[2] a PhD graduate from Curtin University and a lecturer and researcher from the London School of Public Relations, whose expertise in media and inclusive communication complemented Lely’s technical background.
‘I wanted to give something back after completing my studies. When I met Hersinta, she already had a prototype of Vicara, and I saw how I could contribute by developing the software further,’ Lely explained.
They also received valuable guidance from Professor Katie Ellis[3], an expert in disability and digital technologies at Curtin University, and Dr Lydia Timms[4], a speech pathologist at Curtin’s School of Allied Health.
‘We wanted Vicara to go further, not only for children with autism but also for people of different ages and disabilities. That’s why partnerships with Australian academics are important. They help us think about inclusivity from a broader perspective,’ Lely said.
From Innovation to Community Impact
Funding from Universitas Tarumanagara and Indonesia’s Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education in 2023 and 2024 enabled the team to refine Vicara and pilot it in therapy centres and schools.
The pilots found that Vicara could stimulate clearer speech, encouraging children to practice words by repeating the generated sounds.
At Rumah Belajar Cemara[5], a community-based school in Jakarta for children with autism, Lely worked with teachers to integrate Vicara into classroom activities. This 2023 pilot found that children became more engaged when using Vicara.
Some children with non-verbal communication needs could correctly locate picture cards when given instructions from their teachers and parents. Others with limited verbal communication showed clearer speech for a complete sentence after practising with the app’s text-to-speech function.
Encouraged by the results, in 2024, Lely and the Vicara team extended the project to the Gradasi Therapy Centre[6], a centre for children with special needs in East Jakarta.
There, the therapists reported that the app complemented their sessions. For some children, tapping the cards and hearing the generated speech motivated them to repeat the words, gradually improving pronunciation.
Expanding Technology in Inclusive Education
Lely recently expanded her involvement beyond Vicara. She took on a volunteer role as IT coordinator for PORTADIN[7] (Perkumpulan Orang Tua Anak Disabilitas Indonesia, or Association for Parents of Children with Disabilities Indonesia).
Since 2024, she and her husband have managed PORTADIN’s online presence, from social media to livestreaming national events. Their contribution has allowed the organisation to reach parents across Indonesia and connect its branches in different cities.
‘At PORTADIN, everything is voluntary. , My husband, who is also a computer science graduate, and I like to help because we know technology can connect their branches and amplify their message,’ she said.
For Lely, these efforts reflect a deeper purpose. She sees them as a way to give back to society after years of being supported by scholarships.
Looking ahead, Lely envisions expanding the role of technology in inclusive education. She believes applications like Vicara can support not only children with autism but also people of different ages and with a range of disabilities.
She is now exploring new funding opportunities and further collaborations with academics in Australia to strengthen Vicara’s inclusivity and expand training for teachers and therapists.
‘Australia Awards gave me knowledge, networks and opportunities. More importantly, they gave me a sense of responsibility. That responsibility, to share what I have learned, continues to guide me today,’ she concluded.
[2] https://www.lspr.ac.id/hersinta-ph-d/
[3] https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/katie-ellis-45dfa016/
[4] https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/lydia-timms-7b2dd20a/
[5] https://www.instagram.com/cemara.cemara.77964
