Inclusion of Vietnamese with Disabilities

Since 1989, the U.S.

Government has been improving the quality of life and supporting the inclusion of Vietnamese with disabilities into all aspects of society. To date, the USG has contributed over $60 million in assistance to people with disabilities regardless of cause.

The USAID-funded Inclusion of Vietnamese with Disabilities is being implemented by the Vietnam Assistance to the Handicapped (VNAH) to assist Government of Vietnam (GVN) partners to develop and implement disability related policies and programs.

The programs support has been instrumental to the development of national legislations and policies concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, including the first comprehensive national Disability Law, guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities and equal participation in society for persons with disabilities through accommodation and access to health care, rehabilitation, education, employment, vocational training, cultural services, sports and entertainment, transportation, public places, and information technology.

National Coordination Committee on Disabilities reported in 2012, approximately 170,000 persons with disabilities received healthcare as the result of the Disability Law.

The program helped develop a new National Action Plan on Disabilities (NAP), toward which the GVN has committed to fund at approximately $10 million annually through 2020. Over 50 provinces drafted provincial disability action plans following the NAP.