Acknowledgements

This project allowed me to travel across Vietnam and spend the summer in one of the world’s most beautiful countries. I am forever humbled and grateful for the opportunity.

Firstly, thank you to the Social Science and Humanity Research Council (SSHRC) for awarding me a scholarship and funding Breaking Barriers.

A very special thank you to my advisor, Paul Adams, for constantly guiding me in the right direction and supporting my story and vision.

Thank you to Dave Elliot – video advisor, map maker extraordinaire and always friendly face.

Thanks Roger Martin – even when you were home with the flu, you were there to answer every question. I wouldn’t have been able to navigate the terrifying world of WordPress without you.

To audio wizard, Dave Sarazin, thank you for always making me sound great.

Thank you to my translators My Tran, Truong Le Thu Huong, and Thoung Le. The Vietnamese language is difficult, you made it easy.

To my dad, Fred Steinhauer, and sister, Brooke Steinhauer – thank you for always listening (or pretending to anyway). Your constant support made this possible.

And lastly, to my mother, Ellen Steinhauer – the best editor and friend a girl could ask for. I’m lucky to have you and I couldn’t have done it without you.

Breaking Barriers is dedicated to all the people with disabilities in Vietnam. Thank you for letting me share your story.