One of our network folks wandered at a luxury shopping at Phrom Phong, and encountered with this spectacular scene shown in the image. Without thinking he cried out “PWDs in Thailand are so rich!!” However, I’d like to remind you that public consciousness and wealth is a different thing. No matter how rich or poor, we’re all the same as people. The mall, too, must obey the law regardless of customer’s social status. “Accessible and functional.”

Thailand is known for its warm service and kindness that builds great impression for any visitors around the world. And the commuter train service is simply one of them. I’ve been using the commuter train services intensely during the last 6 years. I can firmly assure you its gradual improvement of services in many areas. And I’m not alone. Recently I got a happy story from Aey regarding the service that I can’t wait to share with you.

I’m recently notorious of bad and unequal comparison that might instigate us to feel inferior. There’s no way I’d do that, by intention. So today I make a twist to show a more positive side of ours. The image is clearly demonstrated in itself of what we actually can do. When we want something to be great, it would finally be great.

Jern-jern is a young PWD with muscular weakness (ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Still fresh from university, she has been working for 2 years. Her office is at Ratchada (read as Rat-cha-da) area, adjacent to her place in about 300-meter wheeling distance. Along the way on sidewalk, she has to encounter with a shit called ‘S-Guard’. It’s a traffic-calming invention built to prevent motorists driving on sidewalk. The S-Guard  can’t do the job, preventing motorists but blocking Jern-jern. She has no choice but to get down on the road and find her own way out. And we all know that …

I’d like to share with you today. Anyone who comes to this page would recognise its cover image which I had posted it since the very beginning, and it never changed. It’s my strong intention and ambitious vision that laid a foundation for all my works. I name the image “The City of Tomorrow” to remind us our sense of duty to make the city together. It’s my dream to have a city that all of its dwellers are living happily regardless of their physical conditions.

Problem solving in a new normal way, our real ability! Today I’d like to share with you some of our main progresses during the last month that we’ve collaborated and supported the wide range of our networks. Things are quite impressive actually. As long as I can remember they are: 1. The accessible parking design at Sa-mi-ti-vej Sri-na-ka-rin Hospital / work done in 1 week. 2. The physical barrier around the subway entrance at MRT Bang Pho station / issue reported, and acknowledged, to the top management within 10 minutes.

One of our fellow networks has sent this devastating scene to me when he explored the whole area of MRT Bang O station, a newly-built station recently opened for service. I personally don’t blame the labour workers who, after all, follow the order of their boss. And their boss follows the order of their superior up further, and the superior to the more superior.

I recently got this pic. The width of Bangkok’s pavement is next to nothing. While the Tokyo city built since 36 years ago and offers you very wide even a car can run on. An image is worth million words. This kind of scene has prevailed in Thai society for too long. Why didn’t we see much improvements at all? Why we’re still underdeveloped, and let this non-sense takes over our city and our life?

The number of registered PWDs in Thailand accounts roughly about 2 million people. Among this, I’ve selected some interesting fact, and one that raises a question, about PWDs’ educational level to share with you. What do you think? No doubt, education is a key factor, and gateway, to one’s pursue of quality life. We must help each other. Help rebuild our city with more equality and accessibility. When we have a truly accessible and equitable city where we can go anywhere we want, “the disabled” whose perception from the public is ‘less fortunate’, would be able to go to school …

I was invited to talk with wonderful kids at Ajarn Andrew’s English class,  let see what story I’d talk with them. This’s my special editing, with extra images to provide. Big thanks to Ajarn Andrew Biggs. Ps. My answer to a missing question: One who wears Finisher t-shirt is one who completed a 42 Kilometers marathon.