Page 13 - Mainstreamer e-Magazine Volume 5, April 2024

OUT AND ABOUT: INCLUSIVENESS

lacks appropriate accessibility features, denying enabling all citizens to fully participate in society.
them equal access to essential services and In Thailand, the government supports civil
opportunities for social participation. architecture and universal design principles
In Thailand, a wheelchair user encountered through policies, and various foundations and
significant barriers when attempting to visit a organisations advocate for these principles.
government office for a scheduled meeting. Upon The Civilization Foundation, established by Mr.
arriving at the municipal building in the city’s Krisana Lalai on September 24, 2015, campaigns
central area, they discovered that the entrance had for fair and friendly design for all, including the
a flight of stairs with no visible ramps or alternative elderly, convalescent patients, PWDs, pregnant
accessible paths. The old building had not been women, young children, and wheelchair users.
renovated with modern accessibility features. This foundation regularly assists in visiting areas
Faced with the stairs, the individual realised he or and coordinating adjustments to make them
she could not enter the building independently. A accessible, ensuring that buildings are constructed
lack of signs indicating an accessible entrance or with proper orientation and real components.
an elevator compounded the issue, forcing a PWD A team of “universal design architecture
to call the office from their phone to explain the ambassadors,” composed of people with
situation. disabilities, is stationed in every province
The receptionist, while sympathetic, informed throughout Thailand. They visit provinces to
the individual that the building lacked the explore and assess the accessibility of newly
necessary infrastructure to accommodate built places, and where necessary, co-design
wheelchairs, and that no immediate solution was adjustments to make sites truly accessible for
available. Staff members came down to meet the PWDs.
person at the building’s entrance and suggested Despite government policies emphasising
that they handle the document submission and the importance of universal design architecture,
discussion there. However, this solution lacked some construction sites do not adhere to these
privacy and the professional setting required standards, leaving facilities unusable for PWDs.
for official business, prompting the person with Therefore, it is crucial for them and all community
disabilities to file a formal complaint about the members to participate in exploring, expressing
building’s inaccessibility. They also highlighted the opinions, and working collaboratively to address
incident on social media, gaining support from these issues. Such efforts are essential for
other disabled individuals and advocacy groups creating genuine social opportunities in Thailand
who had similar experiences. This collective and globally, underscoring the need for serious
outcry led to local media coverage, drawing public attention to universal design and collaborative
attention to the issue. development in this area.
Following this incident, the municipal
government faced increased pressure to improve The author contacted disability at the age of 14, but despite
her condition, she has always maintained her positiveness
building accessibility. PWDs’ complaint and the and active lifestyle. Graduated with a Bachelor Degree in
subsequent media coverage sparked discussions Journalism and Mass-communication at the Thammasat
University, Thailand, she is passionate about motivating
within the government about implementing people to live a positive life and has actively engaged
universal design principles in all public buildings. in delivering several speeches and motivational talks
Plans were set in motion to retrofit old buildings across the country. She is currently pursuing her Master
Degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at
with ramps, elevators, and other necessary Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. At present, the author
facilities to ensure they are accessible to everyone. works on communication and campaigning for persons with
disabilities in Thailand and continues her goal to motivate
This scenario underscores the importance and inspire people to live a positive life, and advocating for
of accessible infrastructure in public buildings. inclusive workplace for all.
Without proper access, PWDs face significant
barriers in conducting their personal and
professional affairs. Ensuring universal design in
public buildings is crucial to promote equality and

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