This job enables me to support the community of people with disabilities. I can also share with them successful stories so that they can have better views and motivations to acquire necessary knowledge and skills for better integration”.
That is the burning desire of Nguyen Thanh Tung, born in 1984 in Ben Tre, who excellently received a Master’s scholarship from the Australian Government in 2016.
Shortly after graduating from the University of Social sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City with a major in English, Tung worked at Disability Research and Capacity Development (DRD), an organization that provides free and comprehensive support for people suffering from disabilities. Some of the support includes scholarship programmes, skills training courses, exchange study schemes, job opportunities, and capacity building for people with disabilities.
As Tung recalls, when he studied at the University, his class was on the 3rd floor of the non-elevator building, while the restrooms were on the first floor. For people with mobility impairments, going up and down several times in a day is a severe challenge
From his own experiences, understanding the difficulties faced by people suffering from disabilities when integrating into society, Tung wishes to be able to do something to improve the accessibility of people with disabilities at universities or in society in general. That’s also the motivation for him to apply for a Master's scholarship with a major in People with Disabilities, with the ultimate aim of improving his knowledge and skills whilst also helping his friends, colleagues, and disadvantaged individuals.
According to Tung, compared to more than a decade ago, traffic infrastructure throughout major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City today has undergone improvements. However, they are ultimately still not friendly for people with disabilities.
In some places, ramps are made specifically for wheelchairs. However, to prevent motorbikes, barriers are installed. This accessible facility inadvertently turns into “inaccessible” because disabled individuals are unable to move. Similarly, in some parks, barriers are installed at the entrances, thereby halting wheelchair users from approaching
Although the Government, ministries, and relevant branches have developed sets of accessibility regulations and standards for construction works to improve the situation, whilst there are also certain works paying attention to the disabled-friendly design and construction, many other works still do not strictly follow the guidelines and standards, making it difficult for the disabled to access.
Accessible traffic infrastructure and spaces for people suffering from disabilities hasn’t been fully implemented yet. In some places, certain parts are implemented to be accessible. However, such accessibility infrastructure hasn’t been correctly and fully used.
Many bus stops or bus shelters are disabled – inaccessible due to the lack of appropriate curb cuts, ramps or tactile paving.
Furthermore, new projects only focus on improving accessibility infrastructure for people with mobility impairments, without having accessible infrastructure for the blind such as tactile paving and braille panels.
The renovation of some old buildings is not occurring in accordance with relevant standards, for example the U-turn is often too short whilst ramps run too steep or too long. Many ramps with excessively steep slopes have no handrails, making it difficult for wheelchair users. Restaurants and amusement parks are still inaccessible to wheelchair users.
In Australia, people with mobility, visual, and hearing impairments can easily access the transport system in general and public transport in particular, without the help of people around them.
According to data from the Institute of Transport and Development Strategy, there are 1,132 low-floor buses out of a total of about 10,000 buses, accounting for 10% of the buses. Ho Chi Minh City currently has 311 low-floor buses out of 1,817 buses, reaching 17%. As of the time being, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have invested to develop accessible transportation such as bus rapid transit, e-bus… and improve accessibility infrastructures in bus stops, metro or railway stations such as elevator, audio guidance system, tactile paving… to give better access for the disabled.
Most people with disabilities need the support of other people when using public transport. According to Tung, taxis in Vietnam haven’t been designed to support wheelchair users, meaning they have to rely on the assistance of taxi drivers.
"Besides kind taxi drivers who are willing to help, some drivers feel uncomfortable when receiving guests who are disabled. They don’t show their attitude directly, but through their eyes and the way they look and talk, I feel heartbroken.”
People with disabilities in Vietnam are considered vulnerable in society. They have little opportunity to participate and speak up about the problems they are facing.
According to Tung, the biggest difference between Vietnam and developed countries is the position and perception on the role of people with disabilities in society.
People with disabilities in Vietnam, especially those in remote areas, due to difficult conditions and limited knowledge, they do not have favorable conditions to interact with the outside, meaning that they lack confidence. A large proportion of people with disabilities are considered passive beneficiaries. The community has not fully recognized and properly assessed their values and abilities as individuals.
In developed countries, people with disabilities are more confident and have a greater voice and more prominent role in society. They are not simply beneficiaries, but also contributors to support the community as a whole.
After completing his Master's course, Tung spent 5 years working at DRD to continue supporting projects for people with disabilities, including a project of supporting some universities to improve accessibility infrastructure for students with disabilities. He is also an inspiration for many students in a similar situation as they strive for a better life and help to contribute to the community.
Vietnam signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which means that all of society has a responsibility to ensure equal rights for people with disabilities. The Government has also promulgated the Law on People with Disabilities and specific programmes and action plans to support People with Disabilities to integrate into the community.
Tung and many people with disabilities wish:
The State pays more attention to the process of implementing policies, as well as increasing sanctions against investors and contractors who carry out works to support people with disabilities that do not meet standards and regulations.
People with disabilities are allowed to participate and have a voice in the design and implementation process so that the construction works can deliver the best results.
A friendly society when the transport infrastructure is friendly to everyone, including people with disabilities. This is essential for the development of society.
According to Tung, the most important factor is that authorities, people, and society need to change the perception and have proper assessment of the abilities, values, and contributions of people with disabilities. It can therefore be considered necessary to see them as other members of society and ensure their equal rights.
