Policy Maker Work

Just a few days ago, there was news about a wheelchair user killed in car crash while hauling his wheelchair on the street. I would like to discuss this incident from my experience. What is the cause? Obviously, the unaccommodating sidewalk leaves wheelchair users with no choice but to continue their way on the street.

27 November 2020 As a representative of Disability Network, we joined the launch of an electric-boat service on Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem which was presided over by Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha this morning. There are currently seven fully electric boats servicing eleven piers along the five-kilometer route on Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem.

23 November 2020 I have been invited by the Traffic and Transportation Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(BMA) to join their test of an electric-boat service on Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, on behalf of Accessibility is Freedom and Transportation for All member (T4A). Here is what we found from this first and quick survey:

April 29, 2020 The full name of this board is “Accessible facilities for PWDs” This is the 2nd board meeting. The first time I can’t join because an appointment was too tight and the voting process for the board chairman had apparently been completed.

After file a complaint about Skywalk and the stairway to the building, the chairman of the commission of Thai Senate introduced us to the former governor of SRT. I got a chance to report the problem of the Southern Line platform construction’s platform high that will lower than the other lines. He promised to ask and talk in detail, I then asked to shake hand as a promise ^^

MRT Purple Line is one of the problematic metro train systems and ‘Station access level quite low’ because the station size is very large and with the method of ‘One elevator per side’ and since the road physical is very width also cars runs very fast (6 lanes on each side), people generally cross the road using a overpass only.

After we have conducted field survey at the stations so many times, today I and Mr. Ood, on behalf of Transportation For All (T4A), participated in a meeting with the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) in regard to physical improvement surrounding the stations to be accessible for all.

28 August 2019 Title: Requesting to test and discuss regarding the shuttle boat’s adoption of a universal design concept To: Krung-thep Tha-na-kom Co., Ltd. The Accessibility Is Freedom and the Transportation For All (T4A) have conducted an intensive field survey concerning accessibility issue on the MRT and BTS Bang-wa stations which also are linked to Bang-wa Pier.

The meeting altogether was our very first time. It’s good to get to know each other. We did inform everyone of a big picture in regard to the ongoing accessibility problems. The Director, Deputy Director, and all members of the DRT were such a group of active guys. Everyone actively participated during the discussion, provided informative insight, and showed a willingness to solve the problems accordingly to the regulations and inclusiveness. This integral meeting with several parties was far from surprising. Our groups of PWDs have always engaged with the government. The DRT’s current team was indeed the former team …

August 19, 2019 we attended the National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities 2019. The event was hosted by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEP). It’s fascinating and well-organised.