Training Course: Supporting Families of Children with Physical Disabilities At Home

To continue the series of training courses under the initiative “Supporting families of children with disabilities to care for their children at home” by International Social Service (ISS), on December 20–21, 2025, the Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD), in collaboration with the Thuy An Rehabilitation Center for People with Disabilities (Thuy An), organized the training course “Supporting Families of Children with Physical Disabilities At Home.”

The training was attended by 32 grandparents and parents of children with physical disabilities, including children currently studying at Thuy An and families from neighboring communes.

The training aimed to strengthen families’ capacity in caring for, nurturing, supporting education, and providing rehabilitation for children with disabilities at home. The program combined foundational knowledge with practical skills and was adapted to the specific needs of children with physical disabilities. Key topics included:

• The importance of care at home for children’s development and the role of parents

• Understanding children with physical disabilities to provide more effective support

• Supporting the development of motor skills and self-care skills

• Understanding cerebral palsy: causes, signs, consequences, and prevention measures

• Nutrition for the development of children with disabilities

• Proper feeding techniques and managing challenging behaviors during mealtimes

• Understanding the psychology of children with disabilities for more effective care and education

• Effective communication skills between parents and children with disabilities

• Injury prevention for children with disabilities: managing airway obstruction, electric shock, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

• Emotional support and stress reduction for parents

• The rights of children with disabilities

A key highlight of the training was its flexible, family-centered approach. To ensure families without childcare support could fully participate, Thuy An arranged staff to assist with childcare for parents who brought their children along. Some children with more complex needs stayed with their parents throughout the two-day training and were invited to join practical sessions. Trainers provided hands-on demonstrations and real-time guidance based on the children’s actual situations, allowing parents to observe, learn, and practice caregiving and rehabilitation skills at home directly during the training.

The training was conducted in an open and positive atmosphere, with strong engagement from families. By the end of the course, most parents expressed high satisfaction, noting that the training offered practical knowledge, helped them better understand their children’s conditions, and increased their confidence in supporting their children at home. Many families expressed interest in continuing with similar training programs in the future.

A parent shared at the end of the course:
“Participating in this course was very meaningful and practical for me. I truly hope RTCCD and Thuy An Center will continue organizing similar sessions so families with children with disabilities can learn and take part. I sincerely thank the trainers for their dedication over these two days, helping us better care for our children when we return home.”

RTCCD reaffirms its commitment to supporting families of children with disabilities in building safe and positive family environments and promoting children’s development and inclusion. At the end of the training, parents were guided to access RTCCD’s free online learning platform, where they can review content on disability care and choose additional courses to support comprehensive child development.

Upcoming training courses include:

• Supporting families of children with developmental delays at home

• Sign language classes for families of children with hearing impairments