Society needs to stand side by side with families with autistic children
According to data released by the General Statistics Office in 2019, Vietnam has about 6.2 million people with disabilities aged 2 and over, of which an estimated 1 million people have autism spectrum disorder.
The rate of autism has increased significantly in the past 15 years, becoming a worrying issue. Statistics show that for every 100 children born, one child has autism spectrum disorder, accounting for about 30% of children with learning disabilities.
In his opening speech, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Phan Van Hung, emphasized that the number of children with autism spectrum disorder in Vietnam is increasing, the issue is no longer a concern of parents but requires the cooperation of the whole society.
“Every child born has the right to be loved, to learn and to develop. Autistic children are no exception. They are not a burden, but a part of society, with potential and the ability to contribute if given the right opportunities,” Mr. Phan Van Hung emphasized.
In reality, many autistic children and their families face many difficulties, from lack of community awareness, limitations in special education to inadequate policy support. These barriers make the integration and development of autistic children more challenging.
The seminar is an opportunity to listen to opinions from experts, managers and social organizations to find effective solutions. At the same time, it contributes to spreading a positive message of companionship and understanding for autistic children, and at the same time calls on the community to join hands to create a friendly environment, helping children have the best development opportunities.
Autistic children need to learn and be guided in their career to survive and assert themselves.
The Ministry of Education and Training has Circular 03/2018 regulating inclusive education for people with disabilities. However, in reality, the number of autistic children who can study in public educational institutions, especially secondary and high schools, is still very small.
Faced with this reality, Deputy Director of the General Education Department, Ministry of Education and Training, Ta Ngoc Tri, said that children with autism spectrum disorder must be identified as children with disabilities. This is an issue closely related to policies for these children. However, this identification requires the involvement of competent health agencies.
According to the Deputy Director, we now need to pay attention to classifying students into the most appropriate methods. Recently, the General Education Department has consulted to establish separate schools and classes for each group of subjects.
On February 25, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 403/QD-TTg, approving the Planning of the system of professional educational institutions for people with disabilities and centers to support the development of inclusive education for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.
Delegates attending the seminar
The plan clearly defines an educational model parallel to the existing system, including specialized and semi-inclusive schools for children with severe disabilities, while supporting children with milder disabilities to study in inclusive schools.
This decision creates an important legal basis, ensuring that each province has at least one public educational support center for people with disabilities, while encouraging localities and private facilities to participate. Private facilities that meet quality requirements will be allowed to operate under the professional management of the Department of Education and Training.
According to Deputy Director Ta Ngoc Tri, the education for children with autism spectrum disorder aims to help them live and assert themselves. In the near future, the unit will continue to think about consulting and adding vocational training content to the training program so that children can earn a living in the future.
According to Director of the Center for Research on Children's Rights, Ms. Phan Thi Lan Huong, the career guidance project for autistic children is one of the key projects of the Center for Research on Children's Rights.
MSc. Phan Thi Lan Huong said that at the Center, after many years of research and practice, career guidance and training activities mainly focus on handicrafts - the field where children perform best. Depending on the level of awareness, the Center develops appropriate methods, curriculum and jobs. She emphasized that career guidance for autistic children requires not only love but also dedication, thinking and scientific methods.
Giving her opinion from the perspective of a business employing autistic workers, Director of Our Story Community Development Center Nguyen Thi Thu shared that she does not promote her products as being made by autistic people, the center wants customers to approach them from the perspective of the value of the product rather than pitying the person who made it.
According to Ms. Thu, currently, the products produced by autistic children at the center have been exported to international markets. We should not consider autistic children as incompetent or weak. In fact, they work very well, follow strict procedures and even work faster than normal people.
The Director of Our Story Community Development Center hopes that businesses will join hands and create opportunities for autistic people to participate in their production stages.
On the sidelines of the discussion, the exhibition area displayed paintings by Ta Duc Bao Nam, born in 2011, who has had autism spectrum disorder since he was 17 months old. Despite many difficulties in communication, Bao Nam showed a special talent in painting. In just two months (from October 1, 2024 to December 2, 2024), he painted 82 paintings, of which 60 were about bridges - a meaningful theme of connection.
Handicrafts made by autistic children were also introduced, proving that with proper care, they can work, be creative and gradually become independent.
Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tuong-lai-nao-cho-tre-tu-ky-post408673.html
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