Kim Lien Primary school has undergone a few modifications recently to make it more accessible to wheelchairs
The US$10,000 "Making schools more friendly to students with disabilities" project was funded by the World Bank and involves building ramps for wheelchairs. Work began last August, organised by the Access Working Group of People with Disabilities and Handicap International.
The group visited 20 educational establishments in Ha Noi to gauge their suitability for the project.
"Most of the schools and universities we visited didn’t have disabled access, which explains why of the 20 schools we went to only one has a single disabled student," said Nguyen Hong Oanh, a member of the group.
The project is designed to advocate the rights of students with disabilities and to raise awareness about the lack of wheelchair access in schools and universities.
"Instead of feeling the shame of having to rely on other people’s help, disabled students can now attend school unaided," said Nguyen Hong Ha, the project’s manager.
Since the project was launched last year, two schools and one university now have disabled access: Kim Lien Primary School, Tam Khuong Secondary School and the University of Labour and Social Affairs (ULSA).
All three establishments now have wheelchair access to the toilets, while disabled students attending Tam Khuong can now visit the library unaided.
"I’m very happy because at least my son can feel more comfortable in school," said Nguyen Thanh Huyen, whose wheelchair-bound 14-year-old son Nguyen Van Kien attends Tam Khuong.
Ha said the project wasn’t simply about building ramps in schools but about creating "a society without barriers" where people with disabilities can lead a normal life.
"With better accessibility, we hope more and more disabled children will go to school," added Ha.
"Most of the schools and universities we visited didn’t have disabled access, which explains why of the 20 schools we went to only one has a single disabled student," said Nguyen Hong Oanh, a member of the group.
The project is designed to advocate the rights of students with disabilities and to raise awareness about the lack of wheelchair access in schools and universities.
"Instead of feeling the shame of having to rely on other people’s help, disabled students can now attend school unaided," said Nguyen Hong Ha, the project’s manager.
Since the project was launched last year, two schools and one university now have disabled access: Kim Lien Primary School, Tam Khuong Secondary School and the University of Labour and Social Affairs (ULSA).
All three establishments now have wheelchair access to the toilets, while disabled students attending Tam Khuong can now visit the library unaided.
"I’m very happy because at least my son can feel more comfortable in school," said Nguyen Thanh Huyen, whose wheelchair-bound 14-year-old son Nguyen Van Kien attends Tam Khuong.
Ha said the project wasn’t simply about building ramps in schools but about creating "a society without barriers" where people with disabilities can lead a normal life.
"With better accessibility, we hope more and more disabled children will go to school," added Ha.
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