At the age of 18, Lê Trọng Nguyên, better known as Austin, lives with autism in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The only child in his family, Austin was always surrounded by love at home, but school life was often a different story.
Before Austin joined the Special Olympics, he faced the silent but painful reality of bullying. Classmates hid his school supplies, pushed him into the hallway or teased him. Every little act left its mark and reminded him that the world didn’t always accept him for who he was.
Convert struggle into strength
At 18, Austin from Vietnam has transformed from being bullied at school to becoming a confident leader through the Special Olympics. From international youth summits to his role as a teaching assistant, his journey shows the power of inclusivity and the courage to inspire others.
Everything started to change in July 2020 when Austin joined the Autism Friendly Sport Fun Shop, a collaboration between the Vietnam Autism Network, Ton Duc Thang University and Special Olympics Vietnam. For the first time, he found a supportive space to explore sports, connect with others and build self-confidence.
Since then, Austin has emerged as a leader. He has represented Special Olympics Vietnam at regional and local youth summits, including the Youth for Inclusion: Expanding Unified Champion Schools summit 2024 in Singapore, his first trip abroad. There, surrounded by athletes from 14 countries, Austin embraced teamwork, independence and cultural exchange, while also finding the courage to speak publicly and inspire others.
At home, his days are filled with school, family dinners, games and his favorite music. He practices yoga and meditation at night and works as a teaching assistant at a special needs center, a role he takes pride in. There he helps design learning materials for students with intellectual disabilities using tools such as Canva, Word and PowerPoint, and also serves as a yoga assistant, supporting students with relaxation and emotional regulation activities. “I feel more confident and courageous now,” Austin said. “I can guide and connect others, and also inspire them.”
His achievements include becoming a teaching assistant at the Tam An Training Skills Center for children with autism, and contributing as an athlete leader to the Heart to Heart project, teaching young people with autism first aid skills.
Austin’s family has witnessed his transformation and become happier and healthier along with him. His mother, Loan Nguyễn, says, “Go with your child and let him shine in his own light. Never give up.”
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