Journey to light up the future for children with disabilities

With the synchronous participation of authorities at all levels, social organizations, schools and the entire community, the work of caring for and supporting children with disabilities in Nghe An has achieved many remarkable results. However, the journey ahead still has many challenges.

Efforts

At the Nghe An Children's Support Fund, the image of children with autism spectrum disorder and mental retardation diligently coloring, enthusiastically assembling blocks or shyly greeting strangers has become extremely familiar. In that quiet, friendly space, each of the children's small progress is cherished, recognized and encouraged. Some children who could not speak now say the first emotional words "mom", while others who were hiding in the corner of the room now boldly join in and play with their friends.

Specialeducation for autistic children at Nghe An Children's Support Fund. Photo: Minh Quan

It is known that the Children's Support Fund regularly organizes intensive psychological therapy programs, practical life skills education, donates specialized books and organizes meaningful events such as Children's Day, Mid-Autumn Festival... These activities not only help children improve their skills but also spread the message of love and deep sharing in the community. A parent whose child is being treated here could not hide her emotions: "My child used to not communicate, could not look people in the eye. But after nearly 1 year of treatment here, he knows how to greet, hug his mother, and even sing along to a few familiar melodies. To me, those are miracles."

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For children with autism spectrum disorder - a type of disability, we do not expect to create miracles overnight. But with each therapeutic activity, each skill session, each child has more opportunities to develop to their true potential.

Ms. Ton Thi Tri - Deputy Head of Child Support Department, Nghe An Provincial Children's Support Fund

The care and support that creates the will to live is also present in the story of Nguyen The Linh - a 5th grade student at Dien Chau Town Primary School. Born with a motor disability, weak right arm and leg, but thanks to the special attention from the local government in providing medical and material support as well as creating learning conditions, along with the close and dedicated attention of the school, he always maintains an optimistic and hardworking spirit.

From a young age, Linh had to learn to write with her left hand - a difficult journey, sometimes she was so painful that she cried. However, the desire to go to school and not wanting to disappoint her grandmother gave her the strength to overcome everything. The school arranged a suitable seat for her, the homeroom teacher always encouraged and supported her in studying and practicing skills. The local government also regularly visited, gave gifts and coordinated with the school to organize programs to help her and other disabled children. Thanks to that, she not only studied well but was also a filial grandchild, knowing how to help her grandmother with daily work.

Over the past years, Nghe An has made efforts to promote the care and support of disabled children to integrate into the community. With the deep concern of Party committees, authorities and the community, many outstanding results have been recorded in inclusive education and support for children in special circumstances in general and children with disabilities in particular.

According to the Department of Health, the province currently has 935,290 children (accounting for 27% of the population), of which 10,815 children have disabilities of all kinds, accounting for 1.16%.

Types of children with disabilities in Nghe An province. Graphics: Minh Quan

These are volunteer buses that take children to the hospital for free screening for disabilities, surgeries for congenital heart disease, cleft lip, cleft palate, or interventions on movement and genitourinary system to help them have a better chance of growing up healthy.

Disabled children at a social protection facility in Nghi Loc district. Photo: Minh Quan

In 2024 alone, the Provincial Children's Support Fund supported more than VND 5.8 billion for 10,080 children, including screening for disabilities for nearly 7,000 children, supporting congenital heart surgery for 51 children, cleft lip and palate surgery for 6 children, and supporting the cost of motor and urinary surgery for 25 disabled children. Nghe An General Hospital also provides comprehensive rehabilitation services to help disabled children maximize their functions and integrate into society, including support for writing, using sign language, and teaching Braille. Along with that, meaningful gifts such as wheelchairs, bicycles, scholarships, and learning tools are also continuously given to the children, helping them to move to school by themselves, or access knowledge more easily.

From August 2023 to May 2024, with the support of the Justice Innovation Fund (JIFF), the project "Promoting the implementation of children's rights, ensuring children's access to support resources, health care and education services for children with autism spectrum disorder in Nghe An province" was implemented in 5 districts in the province, thereby surveying, screening and early detection for more than 900 children with developmental disorders; providing legal advice and assistance to 129 families with autistic children, bringing hope and direction to many families.

At specialized facilities such as the Nghe An Province Vocational Training Center for the Disabled, the center receives 260-270 disabled students each year. Many of these students come from poor and disadvantaged families; while at the center, they not only learn to read and write but also learn a trade and practice self-reliance skills to prepare them to firmly integrate into life.

Teaching culture according to the specialized education program at the Provincial Vocational Training Center for the Disabled. Photo: Minh Quan

Along with improving the quality of specialized centers and promoting inclusive education in general schools to try to meet the diverse needs of children with disabilities, the Department of Education and Training has directed educational institutions to develop age-appropriate curriculum content, maintain and improve the quality of universal education, and especially "well organize inclusive education for children with disabilities".

Barriers to overcome

However, the work of caring for and supporting children with disabilities in Nghe An still faces many challenges that need to be resolved. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lai - Deputy Director of the Provincial Children's Support Fund: There are still some Party committees, authorities, a number of officials and people who do not have full awareness, considering work for people with disabilities as humanitarian and charitable activities, the sole responsibility of the functional sector.

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Inadequate awareness of responsibilities towards people with disabilities in general and children with disabilities in particular leads to slow, incomplete and ineffective leadership, direction and implementation of policies and laws for children with disabilities. Stigma and discrimination against people with disabilities in general and children with disabilities in particular still exist.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lai - Deputy Director of Nghe An Provincial Children's Support Fund

In addition, the awareness of some families with disabled children, especially children with autism spectrum disorder, is still limited, leading to not taking their children for consultation, surgery or early intervention, losing golden opportunities for their development. Along with that, the general economic difficulties also affect the mobilization of social resources, and difficulties in accounting for foreign aid also cause delays in the implementation of programs to support children with disabilities.

Screening for disabled children in Anh Son district. Photo: CSCC

In addition, although inclusive education is of interest, the development of individual education plans, simplification of knowledge and skills for each disabled student is still a big challenge, requiring perseverance and close coordination between schools and families. In specialized educational institutions such as the Center for Education and Vocational Training for the Disabled, facilities are still limited, lacking practice rooms and some vocational training machines and equipment such as sewing, carpentry, modern computers, along with limited funding for vocational training...

Ms. Le Thi Nguyet - Head of the Department of Social Protection and Children (Department of Health), in the coming time, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda work, raise public awareness in a profound way; at the same time, expand the support network, connect charitable organizations, businesses with localities, and specialized educational institutions in supporting children with disabilities. Training to improve the capacity of teachers, medical staff, and collaborators working with children with disabilities is also focused on, ensuring that this team has enough knowledge and skills to provide the best care for the children.

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The journey to light up the future for children with disabilities is a long one, requiring the cooperation and consensus of the whole society so that every child with disabilities is loved, cared for, and has the opportunity to develop their full potential, so that no one is left behind.

Ms. Le Thi Nguyet - Head of Social Protection and Children Department (Department of Health)

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/hanh-trinh-thap-sang-tuong-lai-cho-tre-khuet-tat-10298541.html