Helping people with disabilities integrate into the community.

People with disabilities are those who have defects in one or more body parts or functional impairments that manifest as disabilities, making work, daily life, and learning difficult. Physical disabilities are always obstacles that people with disabilities face. However, refusing to surrender to fate, with willpower and determination, many people with disabilities have risen to success in their studies and productive work.

Vocational training in sewing for people with disabilities at the Khoai Chau Rehabilitation and Vocational Training School for People with Disabilities (Khoai Chau)

"When one door closes, another opens" is the belief and optimism of Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang, a visually impaired girl from Vuong town (Tien Lu district). Overcoming her blindness, Xuan Trang has strived in her studies and graduated from Hanoi Pedagogical University with honors.

Xuan Trang shared: "The love and care of my family, the help of my teachers, friends, and the support of the Provincial Association for the Blind have helped me overcome my inferiority complex, become more confident, and take control of my life, so as not to become a burden to my family and society." Currently, Xuan Trang has started her own business, a physical therapy massage center in Nghe An province. Hopefully, these new opportunities will help Xuan Trang achieve her dreams soon.

Also visually impaired, Ms. Bui Thi Huyen May from Lien Phuong commune ( Hung Yen city) has found a suitable job for herself: massage therapy. Her massage service provides employment for 3 visually impaired people, with an income of 4 to 5 million VND per person per month.

Unfortunately, due to a traffic accident, Mr. Pham Van Thao (Minh Hoang commune, Phu Cu district) had to have his right arm amputated. At that time, he was completely devastated, feeling ashamed and insecure about himself. However, with the care and encouragement of his family and friends, he gradually regained his spirits. Through his determination and dynamism, from a small fruit and vegetable stall, he and his wife now own two large fruit and vegetable stores at the Tran Cao town wholesale agricultural market (Phu Cu district). His stores employ three additional workers to help with sales. Each month, after deducting expenses, his family earns between 50 and 60 million VND.

Currently, the province has over 22,000 people with disabilities. In recent years, localities have advised and guided people with disabilities and their families in preparing documents to receive social assistance benefits as prescribed. Many support and care activities for people with disabilities have been implemented by functional agencies and the community in various forms, suitable to each type of disability and circumstance. People with mild disabilities who have the ability to understand and work are given attention and provided with favorable conditions to receive education, vocational training, and job placement assistance.

Once employed, many people with disabilities confidently integrate into society based on their own abilities. Those with severe or extremely severe disabilities, or those without support outside the community, receive monthly social assistance or long-term care and support at social assistance facilities. Currently, the province has over 18,400 people with severe or extremely severe disabilities receiving monthly social assistance.

In particular, the province has implemented specific policies to help people with disabilities alleviate difficulties in their lives. Resolution No. 536/2024/NQ-HĐND dated December 11, 2024, of the Provincial People's Council, which stipulates social assistance policies for certain social protection beneficiaries in Hung Yen province and takes effect from January 1, 2025, has increased the monthly social allowance higher than the central government's regulations for several groups, including people with severe disabilities, people with severe disabilities from poor and near-poor households; and people with extremely severe disabilities. Specifically, the monthly social allowance for these individuals ranges from 1,250,000 VND to 2,500,000 VND per person per month, depending on the degree of disability, place of residence, etc. In addition, in 2024, 728 people with disabilities who did not have health insurance cards in the province were granted free health insurance cards under the province's own policy. These preferential policies for people with disabilities help them to have more stable living conditions. Many activities such as visiting and giving gifts; providing healthcare, rehabilitation, wheelchairs, walkers, orthopedic devices, etc., for people with disabilities are given attention and implemented.

The circumstances of Ms. Ly Thi Bat's family in Xuan Dao village, Luong Tai commune (Van Lam district) are very difficult. Ms. Bat's family has five members, including four people with disabilities. To help alleviate their difficulties, over the years, commune officials have diligently guided and supported the family in completing the procedures to apply for monthly social assistance. Local Party committees, authorities, and mass organizations regularly visit and provide gifts during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). In 2025, her family will receive 100 million VND to rebuild their house, as their old, dilapidated house has many cracks in the walls and a leaky roof. Nearly 700 people with disabilities are being cared for and nurtured at social assistance facilities, receiving rehabilitation tailored to their specific disabilities, health conditions, and physical state. The level of care and support provided exceeds the general government regulations.

The attention of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the involvement of the entire political system and all sectors of society have created opportunities for people with disabilities to have equal access to basic social services, develop their abilities and self-reliance in life, and gradually improve their material and spiritual lives. However, in the province, there are still many people with disabilities living in difficult circumstances, especially those with severe disabilities; many still have feelings of inferiority and self-consciousness, and face difficulties in finding employment. Therefore, to better integrate people with disabilities into the community, it is necessary to continue implementing effective policies to assist people with disabilities as well as the joint efforts of the whole society…