Ken grew up in rural Laos, facing isolation and limited opportunities. Today, he’s a Paralympian and a leader in disability advocacy. His story shows that resilience and determination can turn barriers into stepping stones. Featured in the lead-up to Be Fearless, Be Me – Inclusive Celebration Day.
In the quiet countryside of Xiengkhouang Province in northern Laos, a young boy named Ken Thepthida was born into a humble farming family. His early life was shaped by hardship. His father was blind in one eye, his mother lived with a physical impairment, and Ken himself was diagnosed as visually impaired at the age of three. Despite these challenges, his childhood was filled with curiosity, courage, and a determination to dream beyond his circumstances.
When he was six, Ken began school at Lardbouak Primary School, where he was the only student with a disability. The experience was often isolating.
“I couldn’t read the blackboard or see what the teacher was writing,” he recalls. “Sometimes my classmates laughed at me or called me names, but I knew I had to keep going.”
Without access to assistive tools or learning materials, Ken created his own learning strategies. He asked classmates to read lessons for him, and in return supported them during exams. It was an unconventional exchange, but one that kept him engaged in a system that had few supports for learners with disabilities.
His dedication didn’t go unnoticed. In Year 5, the school principal selected him to represent the school in an academic competition. However, every question at the competition was written on the blackboard, and he was not allowed a reader.
“It was painful,” he says. “I knew I could do it, but the system wasn’t ready for me.”
Everything changed when Ken learned from his cousin about a special school for the blind and deaf in Vientiane. In 2012, he left his rural village to study at Piavat High School, an inclusive environment where students with disabilities were encouraged to participate fully in academic and social life. After school, Ken played football with friends, a passion that would shape his future.
In 2013, he tried out for the ASEAN Para Games but wasn’t selected. Instead of giving up, he trained harder. Two years later, in 2015, his perseverance paid off: he was chosen to represent Laos in regional, continental, and international para-sport competitions.
One of his proudest achievements came when he represented Laos at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, held in 2021 due to the pandemic. In 2024, he continued competing internationally and supported the Lao team as they prepared for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Alongside his athletic achievements, Ken remained deeply committed to education. He completed high school in 2018 and later earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing) from the National University of Laos. He was supported by the Lao Australian National Scholarship (LANS), which funded his studies and provided vital learning tools such as a laptop and magnifier.
After completing his degree, Ken joined Asian Development with the Disabled Persons (ADDP), where he worked on projects empowering people with disabilities across Laos. Two years later, he received the Australia Awards Scholarship, bringing him to Australia to pursue a Master of Disability Practice and Leadership at Flinders University.
Now, in 2025, Ken continues his advocacy journey as the Secretary of the Flinders University Students with Disabilities Association (FUSDA). In this role, he helps foster a supportive community for students with disabilities, promotes accessibility across campus, and uses his lived experience to push for more inclusive systems.
From a small village in northern Laos to the Paralympic stage and now to Australia, Ken Thepthida’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and hope. His journey shows that disability is not a limitation but a different lens through which strength, courage, and possibility can shine.
Ken’s journey, from studying without assistive tools in rural Laos to competing at the Tokyo Paralympics and now advocating for students at Flinders, shows what determination can achieve when opportunities open. On Be Fearless, Be Me – Inclusive Celebration Day, we’ll celebrate stories like Ken’s and the practical steps that make inclusion real: accessible learning, community support, and leadership driven by lived experience. Join us and be part of building that future.
Event Details:
📅 Date: 3rd December, 2025
📍 Location: Plaza/Student Hub, Bedford Park Campus
🎉 Hosted by: International Student Services (ISS), Flinders University Students with Disabilities Association (FUSDA) and the Career Readiness team
Want to read more inspiring journeys? Explore Raymond’s, Maria’s and Faith’s story as part of our Be Fearless, Be Me series.