From protection to empowerment: Social security and inclusion of persons with disabilities

HA NOI (ILO News) – “I was turned away at the very first doorway of my life when I was only five years old – simply because I am blind.”

The words of Vu Thi Hai Anh, shared at the launch of the ILO’s report Building an Inclusive Future: Social Protection as a Catalyst for Disability Empowerment in Viet Nam left the entire room in silence. Her story began very early, when as a young girl she was unable to attend school like other children, simply because there was no learning environment suitable for students with visual impairments.

© ILO

© ILO

Hai Anh’s first school was her family’s small home, and her first teacher was her devoted mother, who patiently taught her each braille letter. Only after Hai Anh learned how to read, write, and do basic mathematics and composition was her family able to send her to school, where she studied in Grade 2 while her peers were already in Grade 7. It was not until the age of 13 that Hai Anh was finally able to enrol in a specialised school for students with visual impairments – Nguyen Dinh Chieu School – located more than 100 kilometres from her home.

Once she gained access to specialised education and appropriate support, Hai Anh’s abilities quickly became evident. She excelled academically, actively engaged in community activities, and achieved many notable accomplishments. In 2023, Hai Anh was admitted to university, majoring in Public Relations, and became involved in numerous initiatives supporting the disability community. Through her active participation in community projects, in 2024, student Vu Thi Hai Anh was recognised as a “Youth Living Beautifully.”

Despite her determination and continuous efforts to move forward, Hai Anh still quietly wishes that if she had not been five years behind her peers, she might already have graduated from university and entered the workforce.

Hai Anh is particularly inspired by the words of Ms Cecilia Brennan, Acting Deputy Ambassador of Australia to Viet Nam at the event: “The barriers which people with disability face are not inevitable, they are choices. Together, we can choose differently.”

The barriers which people with disability face are not inevitable, they are choices. Together, we can choose differently.

Ms Cecilia Brennan, Acting Deputy Ambassador of Australia to Viet Nam

Over the past years, Viet Nam has developed a range of social protection policies for persons with disabilities: health insurance that helps reduce the cost of medical care; social assistance that provides minimum income support; and inclusive education and vocational training that open pathways to learning and employment. These policies demonstrate a clear commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind.

However, Hai Anh’s journey also reflects a reality highlighted in the ILO report: policies only truly make a difference when persons with disabilities can access them fully, timely, and without obstacles. When appropriate learning environments, assistive tools, or adequate information are lacking, rights that exist on paper often struggle to become real opportunities in everyday life.

Hai Anh’s story clearly reflects the central message of the ILO report social protection is not merely about protection – it is a foundation for empowerment. When persons with disabilities can access adequate social protection and productive employment, they can fully participate in and contribute to economic and social development.

From a young girl once excluded from the school gate, Hai Anh now stands before policymakers, sharing her story first-hand. Her presence is a powerful reminder that removing barriers is not about granting special privileges, but about creating conditions that enable persons with disabilities to become capable citizens and meaningful contributors to society.

© ILO

© ILO