U.S. Embassy Launches Program Benefiting 10,000 Vietnamese Disabled People

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi launched on Apr 17 a program costing $9 million to help roughly 10,000 Vietnamese people with disabilities, the embassy said in a press release. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), people with disabilities (PWD) will be provided with vocational training and support and other services. The program will help improve capability of disabled people by supplying corrective surgeries, physical therapy, assistive devices, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. “Our support reaches the workplace, homes and schools to promote greater social inclusion for people with disabilities,” Ambassador David Shear said at a ceremony in Hanoi. This is within programs for PWD in Vietnam which the U.S. government conducted since 1989 under strong support in the U.S. Congress from Senator Patrick Leahy and others. The programs also assist Vietnam in perfecting its law on disability and regulations to help PWD access buildings, transportation and media through sign language and other measures. Vietnam has around 5.3 million people with disability, 75% of whom are living with their families and 32.5% are living under basic living conditions. (Vietnam.usembassy.gov Apr 17)