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Thailand

Country Report of Thailand

The Implementation of the Agenda Action

Narong Patibatsarakich

Disability statistics

Although a number of statistical studies and surveys of people with disabilities had been conducted in the past, the classification of disability adopted in these exercises is limited and also tended to be medically oriented. Hence, it remains questionable whether the samples collected represent the real overall picture of disabled people in Thailand.

In 1991, together with the Ministry of Public Health, the National Statistical Office conducted another survey of people with disabilities in the country. In this survey, there were two classifications for disability, one as a medical condition and the other as a social one.

The first classified disability for treatment and rehabilitation purposes, while the second perceived disability as physical and psychological abnormalities that may be a burden or problem for society.

The survey reported that there were about 1.1 million people with disabilities in Thailand, or around 1.8 per cent of the then total population of 57 million. Out of this figure, 1.1 per cent were male and 0.7 per cent were female.

In terms of distribution, the survey showed that the majority of people with disabilities, some 38.6 per cent, resided in the northeast followed by the north, with 23.5 per cent. As these regions are considered to be the two poorest areas in Thailand, it is assumed that there is a certain correlation between poverty and disability.

In addition, it was observed that there were fewer people with disabilities in the municipal or urban areas than in the non-municipal or rural areas. In the municipal areas, there were 1.2 per cent of people with disabilities compared with 2 per cent in the rural areas.

On the various types of disability, the survey ranked the following starting with the most common:

1. Mobility impairment at 19.6 per cent;

2. Hearing impairment at 13.2 per cent;

3. Intellectual impairment at 10 per cent;

4. Speech impairment at 5.4 per cent;

5. Visual impairment at 1.9 per cent.

In terms of age groups, most people with disabilities were aged 60 and above, followed by teenagers and adolescents, with most of their conditions assumed to be resulting from traffic accidents. In addition, the survey found that 64.9 per cent or 713,000 people with disabilities were of working age.

National Coordination

The 1991 Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act stated that Thailand should set up a National Committee for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons to be headed by the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare.

A National Committee for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons has been established with representation at the policy making level, concerned ministries, NGOs and persons with disabilities are members of this committee.

The Provincial Committee for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons was set up in every province in 1999. The provincial committee is required to have four persons with disabilities as a member of promoting the disability issues in each provinces to achieve the objectives in national, regional and international levels.

The Eight National Economic and Social Development Plan (1997 - 2001) is the first national development plan to incorporate specific strategies for developing persons with disabilities. In addition, under the plan, the private sector is encouraged to provide occupational rehabilitation for person with disabilities.

Legislation

The first Thai law specifically dealing with persons with disabilities is the Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons Act BE. 2534 (1991), this landmark Act was the result of a co-operative effort involving the government, the private sector, academic, and organizations of persons with disabilities and served as a starting point for persons with disabilities in their quest for greater participation and equality.

Under the Act, people with disabilities have rights to the following services: medical, educational and occupational rehabilitation, job placement and community support. However, disabled persons who wish to receive such services have to register.

The Workmen's Compensation Act. enacted in 1994, this Act provides protection for employees disabled at work so that they receive compensation for medical expenses, prosthetic devices and equipment, and physical and mental rehabilitation.   In addition, under this Act, special occupational rehabilitation is also provided at the Industrial Rehabilitation Centre in Bangpoon, Pathum Thani Province.   The act also promotes the issue of better safety and health at work places.

The Declaration on the Rights of Thailand Persons with Disabilities approved and signed by His Excellency the former Prime Minister of Thailand, on 3 December 1998, on the occasion of the 50^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this Declaration is a pledge made by the people of Thailand to persons with disabilities and is today used as a reference in the provision of services for the disabled.

The new constitution of Thailand 1997, Provided clearly that "state should prepare the accessibility and other welfare for PWD. And also provided that discrimination against race, religious, gender and physically condition can not be done"

The New reformation of Education Law 1999 provided that "state should manage free basic education for 12 years, and special expenses in educational media, services, accessibility and other welfare for disabled students. This was proclaimed as the Ministerial Regulation this year.

Public awareness

The Committee for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons support NGOs and self - help organizations of disabled persons in arranging the parent and family education programmes aimed at sensitizing parents and otter family members to the needs of disabled members, their right to a full and meaningful life, and their right of equal access to mainstream sutoral programmes.

Many organizations both government and non-government recognized the right of PWD and has more acceptable. The Civil Official Committee gave the scholarship for PWD to study aboard, the Thai International Airline reduce 50% the price of domestic flight to PWD. The Sport Authority of Thailand will organize the Sport for PWD immediately follow the National Sport Contest of non-disabled person. Etc.

Accessibility

The Government of Thailand is well aware of the difficulties faced by people with disabilities when traveling to schools, workplaces or for social activities.

The announcement of a Ministerial Regulation on Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities on 3 December 1999, the International Day of Disabled Persons. This regulation stipulates that all public facilities, including building, transportation and other services must be made accessible for persons with disabilities.

In addition, the Committee for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons and self-help organizations of disabled persons are advocating together to ensure the access of disabled persons to the public transportation systems to be built in Thailand.

The other ministerial Regulation of the Law Control of Building Construction is in the process to include the accessibility of PWD in it.

Bangkok Metropolitan Autonomous start modify many road and footpath including some new park to be access. JICA office, ESCAP, and FAO office has modified the building to be access by PWD. Some television program has an interpreter of sign language at the corner of the screen for the deaf can access the news.

Education

According to the Act, people with disabilities are entitled to receive an education from pre-school to university levels.

In Thailand, the school system for disabled persons are divided into special schools for disabled persons (most are boarding schools) with a curriculum similar to general mainstream schools; mainstream schools where people with disabilities have the right to participate at all levels, up to tertiary level; and the non-formal education system in which there is no age limit on participants and whose classes can be initiated by volunteers.

Moreover, there are also classes in hospital for children with disabilities in chronic conditions. The country has also set up the following special education schools:

1. Thirteen for children with hearing disabilities,

2. Eight for blind and low-vision children,

3. Eight for children with intellectual disabilities,

4. Two for children with physical disabilities,

5. Six for children with hearing disabilities and intellectual disabilities -separated into different special classes,

6. Five for children with visual disabilities, hearing disabilities and intellectual disabilities -separated into special classes,

7. Ten special classes in hospitals or residential homes or foundation,

In 1999, the Government proclaimed to be the "Year of Education for Persons with Disabilities". As part of the country's national policy, signs reading "Any disabled person who wishes to go to school, can do so," have been posted in front of every school in the country.

Training and Employment

To better prepare persons with disabilities for employment, special vocational training has been provided. The first vocational rehabilitation centre for persons with disabilities was established in 1968, with eight centres now in operation. Operated by the Department of Public Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, these centres can cater for 800 persons with disabilities annually. They provide training in various occupations, self-management, and social skills. Those who have not attended school before are also provided with general education from teachers from non-formal education centres in the area.

Persons with disabilities have the right to apply for work without discrimination. This policy is one that has been approved by Cabinet, who has required all government agencies and enterprises to take in persons with disabilities to work to ensure equality.

In 1994, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare also issued a ministerial regulation on employment of persons with disabilities, in accordance with the Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities Act B.E. 2534 (1991): This regulation requires an enterprise with over 200 employees to hire one person with disabilities who has the ability to work in any position per every 200 employees.

Any business not wishing to do so will have to make an annual financial contribution to the Fund for the Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities. Meanwhile, employers hiring persons with disabilities can deduct double the actual cost of hiring for tax purposes. Under this scheme, there are at the moment, 5,968 persons with disabilities employed in businesses throughout the country.

Employers themselves are now more understanding and more ready to provide support for persons with disabilities. To provide further encouragement to such practices, each year on 3 December, the International Day of Disabled Persons, businesses employing persons with disabilities are presented with a plaque by the Prime Minister in recognition of their contribution. This practice started in 1997.

In case persons with disabilities do not wish to work in business enterprises or government agencies, they can apply for long-term interest-free loans with the Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities Fund so they can start their own self-employment projects. This fund was established in accordance with the Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities Act B.E. 2534 (1991), with the objective of providing loans for persons with disabilities and to support various related agencies. The Government has allocated a budget of 25 million baht for its establishment in 1993 and has allocated a budget of 20-30 million baht for the Fund every year since. In addition to this, the fund also earns interest from donations and contributions from businesses. So far the fund has extended 16,137 loans worth a total of 313,000,000 baht to persons with disabilities to start their own agricultural or commercial projects.

The government have announced the year 2002 to be the "Year of Occupational Promotion for Persons with Disabilities". As persons with disabilities now enjoying a higher standard of living than ever before, with increased access to medical and rehabilitation services, public facilities and education, they are now also better equipped to work.

Prevention of the causes of disability and rehabilitation services

The Ministry of Public Health has set up 13 kinds of medical rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. These services include diagnostic laboratory examination and other types of special examination, counseling, medicine, surgery, medical rehabilitation and nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural therapy, psychotherapy, social services and therapy, speech, audio, hearing and communication therapies, and use of equipment or support machines.

The Ministry's policies and plans also focus on the prevention of disabilities. Its preventive programmes include family guidance for married couples about self-care, provision of information about diseases that cause disabilities and vaccination for babies.

There are also various campaigns to promote the use of safety belts in vehicles and the use of helmets by motorcyclists, to suggest the safe use of some toxic chemicals such as pesticides, and safe industrial practices, such as the use of sound protection equipment or light protection masks.

Self-help organizations

Slept-Help Organization to do the function as advocacy or to be the human right organization can be count one year after IYDP. Before that, there are some organizations, but it is not at national level and their functions seemed to be social function or welfare function. The same as traditional organizations did. The new concept of self-help organization, or organization OF PWD, compare with organization FOR PWD which interested in welfare but not in human right, has start exactly in 1983 when the coalition of every single disability join hand together to establish The Council of Disabled People or DPI Thailand. This occurred 2 year after the end of UN Decade for Disabled Persons. The prominent task is to work with the government organization to pass the Law for Rehabilitation of PWD that is implemented in full scale in the Asia Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons. In the A/P Decade, the strengthening of organization of PWD was promoted by both PWD themselves and government support. The Department of Public Welfare has the Rehabilitation Fund to support the seminar of leadership training which make the self-help organization in the provincial strong. We can say that nearly every province has the self-help organization of PWD.

Regional cooperation

Regarding future effort at the international level, Thailand also plans to expand the close co-operative ties in this field it already enjoys with regional countries, which is in line with the recent proclamation of the ESCAP Decade of Greater Mekong Subregion Development Co-operation, 2000-2009.

The Thai and Japanese Governments are also working together to establish Asian and Pacific Development Centre on Disability in Thailand. This Centre will act as an information centre for persons with disabilities and agencies concerned as well as a regional co-operation centre for the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to holding regional training programs, seminars, and conference for persons with disabilities and other people concerned, the Center will help develop technology that is more suitable for the lifestyle of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.