Local Wisdom of the Community in Handling Mental Retardation People ( a Case Study of “Kampung Idiot” in Sidoharjo Village, Jambon District, Ponorogo Regency)
Sidoharjo village, in Jambon is one of villages in Ponorogo Regency, called as ‘Kampong Idiot', since there are many villagers having mental retardation. They also have many disabilities, as a matter of fact they can survive and live quite longer. It certainly happens in accordance with the local wisdom of other villagers, the normal people who live in their surrounding. The research, therefore, aims to analyze and describe local wisdom of the community “Kampung Idiot” Sidoharjo Jambon Ponorogo in handling mental retardation people of Kampung Idiot in Sidoharjo village, Jambon district, Ponorogo regency. The research used descriptive-qualitative. The informants comprised of village officers, socialite, religion leader, youth and all family members of mental retardation people. Data were collected by using in-depth interview, observation, and documentation. Source triangulation was excuted in an effort to validate data and then the data were analyzed by using Strauss and Corbin's Coding model.The local wisdom of Sidoharjo community in handling mental retardation people is a result of relationship among the people in the community, the people and their God, and the people and nature in their surrounding. The local wisdom can be seen from the community's attitudeaccepting mental retardation people as the parts of the community and they are willing to help the mental retardation people do their personal, household and social activities. The local wisdom of the community seems to happen for (1) a belief in the existence of the mental retardation people is tribulation sent by God, providing deep meaning and boon that need to be faced, (2) they are social ethics and responsible moral for the social environment, (3) the norms include advices, prohibition, punishment, and wise words about life
