Da Nang: Meeting sharing experience on monitoring the implementation of policies related to persons with disabilities

Under the project "Raising Voices, Creating Opportunities- II” for persons with disabilities in the 2021-2024 period funded by USAID, in 2022 and 2023, ACDC has coordinated with local departments and agencies to develop the model of independent living through home visits to counseling on independent living for households of persons with disabilities in 3 provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, and Quang Nam. Based on the results of this model, on April 7^th, 2023, in Da Nang City, ACDC with partners from 3 provinces held a meeting to share experience in implementing this model and solutions to promote policies to support independent living for persons with disabilities in the locality.

The meeting had 46 delegates who were representatives from the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Department of Health, the Provincial OPDs, socio-cultural officials, health staff, members of the OPDs at the commune/ward level, and persons with disabilities who have significant positive changes when participating in activities of independent living in 3 provinces. At the meeting, participating officials also actively shared the results of the independent living model of the 3 provinces in 2022 and 2023, and their experience on the implementation in each field: health, policy, and physical accessibility. Furthermore, groups of officials discussed and presented the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation method along with opportunities and challenges, and proposed lessons learned and connecting methods in the implementation of this model.  In addition, the provinces also discussed and proposed solutions to maintain activities on independent living such as: advising local authorities on issuing relevant documents to continue implementing and expanding the model; promoting propaganda and communication on the independent living model; establishing peer groups at the commune level; mobilizing and utilizing resources to support persons with disabilities to live independently; connecting local groups via Zalo to promptly capture information, situations and timely counsel for persons with disabilities; etc.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai – a socio-cultural officer of Thua Thien Hue province shared, “When I attended the meeting, I learned a lot of experience from the other officers in counseling on independent living for persons with disabilities. From there, I learned many lessons to further strengthen this activity in the locality. At the same time, I also have time to review its advantages and disadvantages to perform better in the next phase."

This meeting is an opportunity for relevant agencies to share and propose solutions to maintain and increase the effectiveness of activities on independent living for persons with disabilities in the locality. This contributes to promoting action, creating an inclusive and equal environment, and improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the community.