The first, second and third place finishers in three categories were given prizes for their innovative ICT products specifically designed for people with special needs.

Organizers said the contest was created to promote respect for disabled people and their tremendous achievements in this industry.

“We hope this is a chance for disabled people to overcome their challenges and become a larger part of this sector by showcasing their creativity,” said Nguyen Long, general secretary of Vietnam IT Association.

The three categories were: products made by disabled people, innovations for people with special needs and using ICT applications to help this community.

Some of the projects included software to help visually impaired children learn Vietnamese and teaching tools for mentally disabled students.

Some 54 projects were entered by individuals or teams from across the nation, 12 of which was submitted by people with disabilities.

Seventeen of those made it to the finals where judges made their selections based on the projects' practicality and professionalism.

The contest was organized by the National IT Management Department, the Vietnam Coordination Department for the Disabled, Vietnam Television and the Vietnam IT Association.