Nguyen Phuong Anh, a 16-year-old Vietnamese girl, who suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, will participate in several UN disability-related events in New York later this month.

Phuong Anh has inspired millions with her talent and courage

The events  will last from 22-27 September and will be part of  the UN General Assembly Meeting.

Phuong Anh, nicknamed “Crystal” plans to participate in the high-level General Assembly meeting on Disability and Development (HLMDD) on September 23.

The HLMDD provides a unique opportunity to improve national and international commitments, at the highest level, for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Post 2015 development agenda.

The meeting will draw the participation of member countries, observers and representatives of entities of the United Nations system, as well as representatives of civil society, organisations of persons with disabilities and the private sector.

Phuong Anh will also attend the Forum of the Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities and Panel Discussion featuring the voices of Persons with Disabilities, on an Inclusive Post 2015 Agenda. She will play various roles in those events including panelist, participant, moderator and singer.

Phuong Anh was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or ‘glass-bone disease’, a genetic disorder causing fragile bones.

Her bones have broken 30 times or more. She says she stopped counting because she thought that it didn’t matter anymore.

Being confined to a wheel-cheer since she was eight years old, Phuong Anh faced stigma and discrimination from society and always faced barriers at school.

With great love and support from her family, she overcame people’s prejudice and gradually showed her singing talent, not to mention her talent for speaking English.

Her big moment came, however, when she auditioned for Vietnam’s Got Talent, a television show. Her performance there brought her national recognition instantly, and she inspired millions with her singing.

UNICEF has honored Phuong Anh as a global outstanding child with disabilities. Now, she is working as a friend of UNICEF Vietnam in order to continue to deliver her message to help children with disabilities.

“I want people to know that we – people with disabilities-- have abilities; and that our potential should always come before our disability,” she said.