Apparently, every single parent wants their children to be healthy and mature. However, many children have unfortunately suffered from diseases, deformities, defects, and abnormal development that their parents feel sorry for them. Many families have spent all their time and money to find ways to help their children's illnesses get better with the hope that they can be integrated into the community.

Some disabled people are working at an industrial sewing facility under the Da Nang Association for Supporting Orphans and the Disabled. (Photo courtesy by the facility)

In an attempt to help people with disabilities to integrate into the community, not only needs the efforts of people with disabilities, but anyone in the community, especially their families, needs to remove barriers in thinking and acting to pay more attention to the disabled.

“I wish my children to be able to hear, understand and speak”

A mother of two children who unfortunately was born deaf and dumb, in Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, with tears in her eyes, said: "My two children were born deaf and dumb as I got the rubella flu during my pregnancy. After many years of taking our children everywhere to receive treatment which was not effective, I decided to bring my children back and let them attend a school for the deaf and dumb. So far, they are 18 years old and have been learned and worked for Da Nang Association for Supporting Orphans and the Disabled so I feel so secure.”

“After giving birth, my husband and I worked so hard to earn as much money as possible because we love our children. We did not mind being far away or borrowing money to take the two for treatment in the hope that the love of the family would partially cover their disadvantage,” she added.

In the same vein, Ms NTT, residing in Son Tra district expressed: “I was so shocked and couldn't believe my eyes when it came to my child was deaf. I both felt sorry for my child’s fate as well as for our family. After putting aside all worries and initial moments of weakness, I began to learn about reputable hearing aid centres with the hope that my child could be able to hear, understand and speak. After many surgeries, my daughter was finally able to hear and receive sounds. This is a great happiness for the whole family even though I know that my child has to wear a hearing aid for the rest of life”

Empathize and share with the disabled people

With constant efforts, Ms. Trinh Thi Ngan, Deputy Director of Tam Anh Minh Co., Ltd. (the management unit of an industrial sewing facility for the disabled under Da Nang Association for Supporting Orphans and the Disabled) not only helping many people with disabilities to get jobs, but she is also a shining example for many other disabled people in the community.

Ms Ngan lost an arm in 1971 and quickly became depressed. She did not want to go to school but finally went back to school and finished high school thanks to the encouragement of her parents. After many unsuccessful attempts to get a job, Ngan returned home to help her mother make vermicelli, take time to learn English and sewing to earn a living.

In 2010, she joined the Association of People with Disabilities in Thanh Khe District and has made continuous efforts to connect other disabled people into the association. In 2012, Ms Ngan received computer training from Da Nang Association for Supporting Orphans and the Disabled.

Since taking the position of Deputy Director of Tam Anh Minh Co., Ltd., Ms Ngan has had numerous opportunities to help many disabled get jobs. She also participates in mobilizing organizations and individuals to support scholarships for orphans, eye surgery for the elderly in need.

Furthermore, Ms Ngan has constantly strived to find output for products by linking with local companies and schools. Although the income is not high for people with disabilities, work helps them gain more confidence and integrate into the community.

As shared by her, she is also a disabled person so she understands them well. At first, they came to work but there was no regularity. However, because of her love and sympathy so she asks their families to make efforts to encourage them. Since then, they gradually understand and love each other like a family.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Viet Nam has about 6.4 million people with disabilities, accounting for more than 7% of the population aged 2 years and over. The whole country currently has over 1 million people with severe and extremely severe disabilities, about 100,000 families and individuals taking care of social protection beneficiaries and millions of people with disabilities are cared for in social protection establishments.

In Da Nang, according to the Association of Supporting People with Disabilities and Orphans, in 2021, with the maintenance of a garment production facility for the disabled, the unit has created jobs for 25 employees who are disabled, generating income from VND 1.5 million to 3 million /month/person.

Also in 2021, the Da Nang Association of Charities and Children's Rights Protection mobilized 159 wheelchairs with a budget of more than VND 400 million to give to disabled people and children with cerebral palsy to join hands to support them to overcome difficulties.

Reporting by THANH TINH - Translating by T.VY