Paean to people with disabilities

A photo exhibition in Dong Nai Province underscores the will and perseverance of 25 disabled people who overcame their situation to lead normal lives.

Nguyen A, who shot the photos for Live and Work, said the 25 can do most things non-disabled people do and aspire to be recognised for their capabilities by the community and employers.


Dinh Tan Suong of Xuan Loc District is one of the subjects of the photos. Polio during childhood left his legs withered.

When he grew up he learnt an electrician's job and raised chickens. He now has a farm with more than 1,000 chickens and earns a stable income to support his family.

The exhibition, which opened on Thursday at the Centre for Conferences and Events and will go on until April 25, seeks to encourage employers to hire people with disabilities and improve community's awareness of them to reduce the gap between them and non-disabled people.

The photos will also be displayed at the Amata and Bien Hoa No 2 industrial parks from April 25 to May 9.

The exhibition was organised by the province's Department of Labour, Social Affairs and Invalids together with Handicap International, HCM City Disability Research and Capacity Development Center, Irish Aids, EU, and the International Labour Organisation.

Nguyen A is known for shooting iconic photographs of disabled people like They Live Such That and Nick Vujicic and His Days in Viet Nam