Breaking Barriers: Creating Inclusive Workplaces for Neurodivergent Workers in Vietnam
Mar 19, 2025 | Noah Throw
In Vietnam, individuals with disabilities face exclusion from many aspects of daily life. Both the workforce and social spaces often feel inaccessible, leaving people isolated. So, what does it take to bridge divides and build an inclusive community?
Specific names and details have been excluded for the privacy of the individuals.
A Personal Journey Toward Inclusion
Enter two One Collective workers serving in Vietnam to create inclusive workplaces for neurodivergent individuals. Over the past 14 years, they have worked with a team to establish an inclusive coffee shop and a program designed to provide job training and placement for neurodivergent people. For many in this community, navigating daily life comes with unique challenges, as their brains and sensory pathways develop differently than the typical brain, often making traditional work environments difficult to access. But for this couple, the need for inclusion wasn’t just theoretical—it was personal.
This couple was inspired to start this by their experience with their son, who has Down syndrome. Watching him grow, they realized how transformative it was for him as a neurodivergent individual to discover his potential and make an impact on the world. They wanted other families to experience the same joy - and for society to benefit from the unique contributions of people who weren’t like everyone else.
But, upon starting their journey, they quickly encountered a challenge: the disconnection. There were very few resources, people, and education opportunities, and the few that existed were scattered.
“When we came to Vietnam, we were teachers looking to make relationships and build spiritual communities. We were meeting random people through our work as teachers, and we didn't pay much attention to the community of people with disabilities. But throughout the first few years, God brought different families with the same shared experience to us. We began to see the needs in this community and understood that our own experiences and connections to resources might be able to expand opportunities for these families.”
Creating Opportunities Through Community
Once they embraced this philosophy, things began to shift. They started spending more time with families in the community, listening to their stories and understanding their needs. This personal approach and learning from other similar models in Asia helped them create a training program to equip young adults with disabilities to not only find jobs but also thrive as active members of the community.
Bridging the gap wasn’t just about training neurodivergent workers. It was about fostering connections between them and their neurotypical peers—helping everyone see the value in working together. This shift to focusing on relationships led to an even bigger opportunity.
During this time, they connected with the owner of a direct trade coffee shop in Bangkok, Thailand. This collaboration resulted in the opening of a second location in Vietnam. The vision was born to create a movement of inclusive workplaces where neurodivergent people could use their gifts, talents, and abilities to work and transform the mindset toward disability in Vietnam. It wasn’t just about opening a shop. It was about creating a place where everyone—neurodivergent and neurotypical—could work side by side and learn from each other.
As the work gained momentum, they saw the community start to embrace the change. Their efforts culminated in hosting the first-ever Night to Shine event in Vietnam. Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, is a global celebration that affirms that people of all abilities are created in the image of God, crowned with glory, honor, and dignity. Thanks to the partnership with several local church leaders and the dedication to fostering the relationships they’ve built in the community, they hope this event will create a lasting impact and provide new opportunities for inclusion.
The goal isn’t just to lead change; it’s to foster sustainability and empower local leadership. The hope is to create a ripple effect by recruiting and mentoring team members trained in special education and social enterprise business. Their work is spreading across the city and, hopefully, one day, across the country.
The long-term vision is to create inclusive workplaces and churches across Vietnam where neurodivergent individuals can use their gifts to enrich their communities.
Listen to a Podcast with the Leaders
A Vision for Lasting Change
In a world where connection often feels challenging, this couple proves that change is possible. They’ve transformed lives in Vietnam by prioritizing relationships and creating spaces where everyone belongs. But their work isn’t done.
You can make an impact in your community, too. Whether you’re inspired by their story or simply moved by the power of inclusion, consider listening to similar stories on the Lasting Change podcast by One Collective. Or reach out to partner with One Collective to help expand programs like these all across the globe. By supporting these efforts, you’ll be part of helping non-profit workers create communities where everyone is valued and empowered.
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