“My daughter has been using a potty and we have not thought of any other option for change. But after attending this class, I will discuss with my family to improve the toilet so that my daughter will be able to take care of herself. Besides, we will install a bar along the wall to enable her to hold upon moving from here and there, also help her practice washing and eating independently from us. That is the sharing of Mrs. Le Thi Hong Gam from Gio Hai, whose daughter was suffered from paralysis since the age of 5, having practiced walking but there are still lots of limitations. She is currently 10 years old, but still entirely dependent on her mother.
Mr. Mai Quang Ban from Phong Binh commune who has a nephew with epilepsy shared: “The training gives me more useful knowledge to look after my grandchild and myself. Many parents still do not know how to arrange housing, accommodation, sleeping places, and toilet facilities for their PWDs’ accessibility, so I can use what I learn from the training today to guide them through".
These are two among many other feelings of 34 participants in the Training in independent living for PwDs - an activity of the Project: "Empowering People with Disabilities" in Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province. Members including people with disabilities and their caregivers from project communes are provided with knowledge and skills of independent living including independent thinking, accessible and safe houses. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, facilitator of the training course: “Living independently helps people with disabilities and their caregivers understand and help people with disabilities self-serve, make decisions by themselves, and reduce dependence on their family and society. It is also a chance for PwDs to overcome the emotional barriers including self-esteem for confidence so that they will have more opportunity to reach out for better social inclusion. All of these may help gradually change the common perception over PwDs that they are an integral part of the society and deserved an equal treatment as others in terms of rights to educational development, job and happiness”.
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Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD)
No.31, Alley 19 Kim Dong Street, Hoang Mai District, Ha Noi
Phone: +84 24 3943 6676/78 | Fax: +84 24 3943 6449
