HCM City aims to build barrier-free smart city for people with disabilities
A seminar was held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 29, discussing how to build a barrier-free smart city for people with disabilities (PWDs), towards a future in which no one is left behind.
Blind people experience technology at Techfest 2022 (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – A seminar was held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 29,discussing how to build a barrier-free smart city for people with disabilities(PWDs), towards a future in which no one is left behind.
The event is an activity of the Vietnam Social and InnovationChallenge Village within the framework of the National Innovative EntrepreneurshipDay (Techfest Vietnam 2022).
It offered a chance for experts, researchers and relatedagencies to discuss future orientations to create an environment friendly tothe disabled in the city.
Nguyen Phuong Linh, Director of the Management SustainableDevelopment Institute (MSD), quoted statistics that show Vietnam currentlyhas more than 6.2 million PWDs, accounting for 7 percent of the population.However, they are rarely seen walking around, shopping in supermarkets,going to theaters or entertainment areas.
Therefore, building a smart city on the basis of innovationis not only about technology and intelligence, but requires a right attitude andcommitment to ensuring equality with no barriers for everyone, including PWDs,she noted.
Speakers at the seminar (Photo: VNA)
With many years of experience in working with and supportingPWDs, Nguyen Van Cu, Deputy Director of the Centre for Disability Research and CapacityDevelopment (DRD), said that thanks to digital transformation, the disabledhave seen a reduction in barriers in learning and knowledge improvement.
In order not to be left behind, in addition to assistancefrom the Government and domestic and foreign social organisations, PWDs mustalso improve their own knowledge to keep up with the development of technology and participate more in social development to contribute to localeconomic growth.
Ho Chi Minh City is carrying out a plan to turn it into asmart city by 2025./.
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Blind people experience technology at Techfest 2022 (Photo: VNA) 
Speakers at the seminar (Photo: VNA) 
