|
New Pathway To Life For a Child with Disability |
|
|
|
Written by Phạm Thị Quỳnh Ni, Tôn Thất Kỳ Văn
|
|
Thursday, 25 February 2010 |
 At the age of 8, Ho Ngoc Hieu who lives in Vinh Thach commune of Vinh Linh District in Quang Tri Province should have studied at Grade 3. He, however, has begun the first grade of primary education since the beginning of this academic year, which started last September.
“A local school refused to admit my son because he has motor disability as an impact of cerebral palsy,” said Hieu’s mother, Nguyen Thi Mai, who is at the age of forty. “My son was accepted at kindergarten but I didn’t know why he was denied at primary school. Except his physical defect, he is absolutely normal. I think the school misunderstood his condition.”
Luckily, the only child of the family doesn’t have to spend his whole life without going to school.
Under a project to assist children with disability to learn along with non-disabled students at the same class, World Vision’s Vinh Linh Area Development Program (ADP) has supported Hieu to study at Vinh Thach primary school.
The ADP has trained Hieu’s teachers on Inclusive Education methods including developing individual education plans for each child with disability so that they have confidently assisted the boy at class. The ADP in cooperation with Vinh Thach School has established a network for parents of children and clubs of student pairs, of which each has a non-disabled student and a disabled child. Children with disability can, therefore, be fully integrated into school activities and social life.
With his pair friend, Hieu goes to school everyday by Vinh Linh ADP-presented wheelchair, which he can use as a learning desk at class or a resting place during break time.
Though the boy studies later than his friends, he makes others impressed with his good performance.
“My son has been good at reading, doing maths and speaking out his ideas to teachers and classmates without any shyness,” his mother prided. |
