Accessible Facilities

The accessible parking is one of the basic rights that is frequently violated by normal people. It also can indicate the quality of life of the PWDs in the particular society. Everyone should be reminded of the social consciousness and responsibility as they reside in the society. A lack of it is the root cause of so many social problems, as we’ve seen.

Bangsaen beach, Thailand: I was waiting patiently for this car’s owner. Not too long, a young girl walk back to get something in the car. I asked nicely, “Hello, is there any disabled people or someone in special need that really have to use this accessible parking?” She replied, “Nope.”

การเลือกอุปกรณ์เพื่อทดแทนสิ่งอำนวยความสะดวกพื้นฐาน (ตามกฏหมาย) ต้องละเอียดอ่อนและต้องระมัดระวัง ต้องมองผลกระทบรอบด้าน ต้องเป็นอุปกรณ์ที่ใช้งานได้โดยสะดวกและปลอดภัยใช้ได้กับคนหมู่มาก และที่สำคัญที่สุดต้องส่งเสริมให้ทุกคนมีความเป็นอิสระในการดำเนินชีวิตได้ด้วยตัวเอง ลิฟท์เกาะราวบันได ถูกเลือกใช้เพียงเพราะ ถูกและติดตั้งง่าย แต่ผลคือใช้ได้เพียงบางคน และที่สำคัญอัตรายถึงชีวิต คนพิการเองก็ต้องระมัดระวัง มองรอบด้านให้มากที่สุดนะครับ

20 September 2019   Subject: Requesting to dismiss the stairlift, and asking to conduct a field survey regarding accessible facilities Dear Samyan Mitrtown’s Management Team Since its grand opening today, I have acknowledged the application of stairlift at the underground passage which connects between the mall and MRT Samyan station. First of all, I would like to express my appreciation for your attempt to provide accessible facilities for people with disabilities. However, the stairlift device is, in fact, inappropriate and fatally dangerous in many ways. Thus, I would like to request as the followings:

<On Editing> Anyone who is a regular user of public transports, whether BTS, MRT, or BRT, you might often recognise a mechanical device equipped beside the staircase. That device is called “stairlift,” or “platform lift.” The purpose of this device serves as a substitution of an elevator. It’s much easier for installation and less costly to facilitate people with disabilities. I first saw the use of stairlift in practice when I travelled in Japan. I later encountered it in Singapore and then realised that it is in use in many countries. “Hey, they provided it for you. Just getting access …

When you get off a train, there would normally have a gap between the train and the platform. Despite the gap, some trains stop at an unparalleled degree (different height level) to a platform edge. This gap makes it quite uncomfortable and unsafe, but ordinary passengers can still go through it. However, the case is not true for wheelchair users in particular of those having severe disabilities or having a power wheelchair with substantial weight. This hindrance is too risky and they cannot go through it by themselves.

The Accessibility Is Freedom and Transportation for All (T4A) have been encouraging to bring up the issue of public transport for all to the spotlight. Recently, we had a wonderful opportunity to have the first meeting with the Department of Rail Transport in order to highlight the issues. It’s a general first meeting in an attempt to share insights and information. The participants in the meeting consist of diverse people from various groups including contractor, rail service provider, PWDs representative, and many related parties. From a holistic point of view, this is a good starting point.

The parking and accessible facilities in Thailand has defined in the law since 14 years ago. In the picture my car (BMW 3539) was parked on the right at Central Bang-na department store and there were many car parking in the accessible parking space and can’t be verified and we were seeing this happening all around in our country. Two years later, I published my first video clip and working on this issue and have been working on up until now. Now, we can be said in Thailand ‘mostly all public places’ have been fixing all their accessible facilities very …

This wasn’t quite a silent move. I got some works to do in Pattaya, so in spare time I managed to visit and investigate the accessible parking and facilities at Makro, South Pattaya branch. A great location with huge space and wonderful ambiance. The accessible parking consists of 3 slots: beautifully and correctly built with constant surveillance by the authorities.