Activity
Physical access is one of the key factors in promoting social assistance for persons with disabilities. In fact, many persons with disabilities, families of persons with disabilities, and even the staff of departments or policy-implementing units of persons with disabilities are still limited in knowledge and skills related to accessibility standards in construction. In order to contribute to improving this issue, in May, ACDC cooperated with stakeholders to organize 2 training courses "Physical access for association officials and officials of related departments" in Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces.
The training course was attended by more than 80 delegates. The delegates came from many different units and departments, including The Organization of Persons with Disabilities of provinces/districts/communes, the Women's Union, Division of Labor Invalids and Social Affairs, Health Station, the People's Committee, a group of the project’s lecturers...
Lecturer Tran Thi Thanh Y - Research Institute of Urban Planning and Development - Vietnam Urban Development Planning Association
The training course was conducted under the detailed and enthusiastic guidance of Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Y – The Planning and Development Institute - Vietnam Union of Scientific and Technological Associations. Through the course, participants gained a better understanding of accessibility concepts and terms; the accessibility regulations and standards of QCVN: 10 2014/BXD tools to assess the accessibility of these works.
With the course in Quang Tri, in addition to training and discussing together in the common hall, the trainees are also divided into 03 small groups to conduct field surveys. The group of practitioners came to survey the homes of 02 households of persons with disabilities in Dong Ha city, the model of accessible houses at ACDC Quang Tri Office and some public works in the province. This is an opportunity for the trainees to apply the knowledge they have learned in practice, thereby assessing the level of access to these works for persons with disabilities and proposing appropriate solutions/counselling.
The group of participants went to a field survey at the homes of persons with disabilities to collect information and assess the accessibility of the project for persons with disabilities
With the training course in Thua Thien Hue province, participants also understood more about the standards for building construction, housing models to ensure access for persons with disabilities and toolkits to assess the accessibility of these works. In particular, besides theoretical knowledge, participants had the opportunity to practice directly on physical access at training hotels, transit houses and at the homes of persons with disabilities. Through learning theory and practice, the trainees are trained in the ability to evaluate and detect problems as well as propose practical support solutions.
Practitioners have the opportunity to practice public works in the homes of persons with disabilities
The activity received many positive shares from the practitioners:
Ms. T.T.S – officer of the People's Committee of Gio Chau commune, Quang Tri province shared: "Thanks for participating in this training course, I learned that there are standards regulating parameters in houses and public works that are very practical and useful for persons with disabilities. I think that applying this knowledge is not only beneficial for persons with disabilities but also for the elderly, older people, including women or people in poor health.”
The trainees present in the training session
Mr H.X.P – officer of the Organization of Persons with disabilities in Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province confided: After seeing the practice results of 02 groups visiting households, I felt heart-rending becauseat the public works where my group went, there were almost no accessibility standards for persons with disabilities. I hope that the officials here will contribute their voices so that later public works will ensure greater access for persons with disabilities.
Ms. N.T.N.A Organization of Persons with disabilities of Thua Thien Hue province shared, "I myself have been trained many times and have visited the transit house in Phong Dien and now visit Phu Vang. I feel that we should learn and share what we learn today. Each of us will not be well forever, later we will all get sick, so it is advisable to share with everyone to learn. Today's program is useful for persons with disabilities in particular and everyone in general. We should learn from and replicate these models of accessibility for persons with disabilities in the community."
This training activity is within the framework of the project "Raising Voices, Creating Opportunities Project (RVCO)" in the period of 2021 – 2024. In the coming time, the project will have many activities to improve the quality of life as well as help persons with disabilities confidently integrate into the community.
Translator: Hoang Duc
