ASPECT ANNUAL REGCONITION AWARD 2009
The 2009 NSW Recognition Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions
and
achievements of the extraordinary people and organisations who support
Autism Spectrum Australia and people with autism spectrum disorders and
their families in NSW
Category: Parent/ Carer Award
Recipient: Mrs Lam Thi Duyen, OAM.
Mrs Lam Thi Duyen is a mother of four children, two of whom have
special needs: one daughter living with Down’s syndrome and a son with
Aspergers. Overcoming significant barriers in accessing assistance for
her own children Mrs Duyen has worked tirelessly to ensure that other
parents in the Vietnamese community don’t face the same isolation.
Mrs Duyen has been instrumental in supporting and advocating for other
Vietnamese families in Australia and beyond. With her husband Quang she
established the Vietnamese Support Group for disabled Children in NSW in
their own home. She has published books and made them available at no
cost to families and professionals worldwide.
Mrs Duyen was nominated for an Order of Australia in 2004 and she is a
Someone To Turn To volunteer. Mrs Duyen was accompanied by her
cultural broker, interpreter and friend Tinh Van Vo-Nguyen who also
deserves an award for her efforts in supporting the Vietnamese community
and translating resources for the community.