The physical environment at home and outside the community has a significant impact in the ability of persons with disabilities to live independently and to better integrate into society. In other words, it is crucial to figure out how to create a safe house or public works access for the disabled so that they can live independently and readily take part in community activities. To contribute to solving the above problem and improving knowledge about physical access for persons with disabilities in houses as well as public works, the Action to Community Development Institute (ACDC) has coordinated with the project coordinators board of Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam provinces respectively organized training courses on physical access for relevant officials and disabled people's organization in the area in December 2022.
Students participate in a frank discussion in the group to come up with solutions to support physical access for persons with disabilities in Quang Tri
The course on December 6-7 in Quang Tri is taught by MA. Nguyen Thi Thanh Y - Deputy Director of The Planning and Development Institute - Vietnam Urban Planning And Development Association. The training was attended by Ms Le Thi Thuy Huong – Central Region Program Manager, Department of Healing and Inclusive Development, US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam; Ms Nguyen Thi Lan Anh - Director of ACDC; Mr Thai Vinh Lieu – Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial Organisation of Persons with Disabilities and Agent Orange Victims, Sponsorship for Persons with Disabilities and Child Rights Protection; together with more than 35 officials from Centers and Health Stations, People's Committee, Organisation of Persons with Disabilities, Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs from communes and wards of Gio Linh district and Quang Tri town.
In order to learn about the proper physical accessible environment for persons with disabilities in Quang Nam, trainees have the chance to take part in live practise in the homes of persons with disabilities.
On December 8-9, a training course took place in Quang Nam with the participation of more than 30 trainees from several districts in the province. Then, in two days, December 13-14, a training course on the same topic was also held with the participation of more than 36 students who are policy officials, staff of the Department of Infrastructure Economics, and health workers. and officials from the Organisation of Persons with Disabilities of Nam Dong and Phu Loc districts and Huong Thuy town of Thua Thien Hue.
Students are excited and together comment on technical regulations in building construction to ensure easier access for persons with disabilities in Thua Thien Hue
Mr. N.T.D., Quang Nam Provincial Organisation of Persons with Disabilities, said: "I am an officer of the Organisation of Persons with Disabilities and I've been contacted and conducted this activity for the first time in my home country. Although we don't give money to disabled people, I think this activity is one of the best since it empowers them with the knowledge, self-assurance, and belief that they can overcome the barriers, live independently of their families, and integrate with society. Once persons with disabilities become socially integrated, the burden they place on families and communities decreases. That's what we all desire.”
In particular, in these training courses, more than 100 participants not only learned about theory but also practiced home visits, housing access assessment and independent living in households of persons with disabilities in the city. Under the enthusiastic guidance of the lecturer, the students' views and opinions were actively shared throughout the course. In addition, the lecturer specifically conveyed to the students the technical regulations in building construction to ensure access for persons with disabilities, universal designs - works for everyone. In addition to group presentations and discussions, trainees had the opportunity to practice detecting problems of households with disabilities in their daily lives through video exercises at class and to measure and understand unapproached items at training hotels. In particular, many students made remarkable progress the next day in their ability to assess and analyze problems and propose practical support solutions for disabled households when practicing the persons with disabilities survey kit
In Quang Tri, students attentively observe and evaluate the home improvement works of persons with disabilities to ensure compliance with national technical regulations
Ms. T.T.M.L. – an official at the People's Committee of Gio Linh Town, Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province said: "This training session's material is excellent and essential for cadres like us and those with disabilities. The lack of awareness about physical access among local authorities and the disabled prevents our community from improving public works that are accessible to persons with disabilities. The initiative needs more locally based practical activities like this as well as more assistance for commune/council officials."
At the end of the training course, Ms. N.T.B.N, a policy officer in Huong Thuy town, Thua Thien Hue province shared: “Through the training, she gained new knowledge about physical access for persons with disabilities and visited them. In reality, I understand more clearly the life of persons with disabilities in general and the difficulties in physical access of persons with disabilities in daily life. From there, it is possible to give additional comments and advice to persons with disabilities so that they can easily access physics to ensure safety and convenience for them in life.”
The activity is part of the “Raising Voices, Creating Opportunities” project for the 2021-2024 period, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by ACDC in Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, and Quang Nam.
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