Disabled and disabilities, Legislation and Laws

Legislative and policy framework

Mention on disability in constitution
“Unjust discrimination against a person on the grounds of…disability…shall not be
permitted” (Thailand 2007a, chap. III, part 2, sect. 30)
“…the…disabled… have the right to be accorded protection with regard to appropriate
trials and have the right to receive proper treatment in cases related to sexual violence”
(Thailand 2007a, chap. III, part 4, sect. 40(6))
“The State shall pursue directive principles of State policies in relation to Social Affairs,
Public Health, Education and Cultural Affairs…to… provide aids and welfare to…the
disabled…” (Thailand 2007a, chap. V, part 4, sect. 80(1))
“A person shall enjoy an equal right to receive education for the duration of not less than
twelve years which shall be provided by the State thoroughly, up to the quality, and
without charge. The … disabled … shall be accorded the right under paragraph one and
entitled to such support from the State as to enable them to receive education comparable
to that received by other persons …” (Thailand 2007a, chap. III, part 8, sect. 49)
“The disabled … shall have the right to have access to and use public welfare and
conveniences as well as appropriate aids to be provided by the State. Persons of
unsound mind shall be appropriately assisted by the State.” (Thailand 2007a, chap. III,
part 9, sect. 54)
“In considering a bill the substance of which is decided by the President of the House of
Representatives to be concerned with … the disabled or persons of infirmity, if the House
of Representatives does not consider it by its full committee, the House of Representatives
shall appoint an ad hoc committee consisting of representatives, from private
organisations concerned with the respective types of persons, of not less than one-third of
the total number of members of the committee, provided that it shall be represented by a
close number of men and women.” (Thailand 2007a, chap. VI, part 7, sect. 152)

Comprehensive disability law Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act B.E. 2550 (Thailand 2007b)
Disability-specific anti-discrimination law No (ESCAP 2006, Q 10)
Sectoral disability laws Cover: education; employment; rehabilitation; health; information and technology;
building code; transportation; poverty alleviation; and social security/social welfare
(ESCAP 2006, Q 8(i))
National plan of action on disability National Plan on Quality of Life Development of Persons with Disabilities 2007-2011
(Thailand 2007c)

National efforts to promote an Inclusive Society

Employment quota scheme 2.0 per cent (ESCAP 2004c, Q 30-a)
National accessibility standard Ministerial Regulations on Accessibility B.E. 2548 (2005) (ESCAP 2006, Q 13.1)
Standardized sign language Yes (National Association of the Deaf in Thailand 2004)
ICT accessibility guideline
No response provided (ESCAP 2006, Qs 17.1, 18.1)

Financial commitment
Proportion of disability (social) spending to GDP or entire national budgetNot available
Annual budget allocated to the national coordination mechanism$1.4 million (ESCAP 2006, Q 1(ii))

Commitment to regional and international instruments on disability
Signatory to the Proclamation of the Decade
1993 (ESCAP 2004b)
Ratification of ILO Convention 159 11 October 2007 (ILO 2009)
Ratification or signatory of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and its Optional ProtocolSigned the Convention on 30 March 2007,
Ratified the Convention on 29 July 2008 (United Nations 2009)

a National or UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimate;
b Based on 2002 National Statistics Survey.;
c Currently being revised

Vocational School for People with disabilities

Pattaya
Redemptorist Vocational School for people with disabilities
Course, Electronics

Several years ago we have stayed at the Redemptorist center for a short holiday. Here is where we've heard about the Redemptorist Vocational School for disabled people. As a wheelchair user myself I was pleasantly surpirsed.

The school was founded by Father Ray. In his name the Father Ray Foundation, Pattaya was founded and his good work continued. They also have a school for the blind, for the deaf and manage several centers for poor and/or homeless children. They teach these children to take care of themzelves, they go to school and learn English.

This good cause can use your support.

Stats: disabilities/disabled people in Thailand

Source: http://www.unescap.org/ESID/psis/disability/publications/glance/Disability_at_a_Glance2009.pdf

Total Population mid-2007
62 829 000 (United Nations 2006)
Population of persons with disabilities
1.9 million (2007) (Thailand 2008b)

Proportion of persons with disabilities to total population
2.9 per cent (2007) (Thailand 2008b)

Definition of disability
Disability is an umbrella term for impairments, activity limitations and participation
restrictions (ESCAP 2006, Q 19). In a survey conducted in Thailand in 2007, persons with
disability were identified by activity limitations and impairments (Thailand 2008b)

Definition of persons with disabilities
Persons who encounter certain limitations in performing their daily activities or social participation due to their impairment in vision, hearing, mobility, communication, mind, emotion, conduct, intellect, learning or any other impairment/disabilities along with various difficulties, and specifically need some assistance to enable them [to] perform their daily activities or social participation same as ordinary persons.
The types and prescriptions of disabilities shall be as determined and announced by the Minister of Social Development and Human Security.” (Thailand 2007b, chap. I, sect. 4)

Employment rate of persons with disabilities
71.5 per cent of persons with disabilities over 15 are unemployed
28.5 per cent employed (Thailand 2007c)

Access to education
67.82 per cent of school-age persons with disabilities are provided education (Thailand 2007c)