Issues & Problems

1. The Ministerial Regulation on the Provision of Facilities in Buildings for Persons with Disabilities, Impairments, and the Elderly (No. 2), 2021. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FPTHqkYUbHUGekzUYaE7sKkTauQEPtIk/ 2. The Ministerial Regulation on the Provision of Facilities in Buildings for Persons with Disabilities, Impairments, and the Elderly 2005. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mIwx0j_EL62LIvWFf44JcwQ8NnYOiiaT/

The photo speaks for itself. Rewinding back three years: The MRT Purple Line came into operation. We provided lots of information for service improvements to MRT. One of the issues we reported, and was fixed, was the skywalk from MRT/Bangyai Station leading to the entrance of Central Westgate. Back then, we noticed curved gutter covers that were very much like the ones in the photo. We see the same problem at MRT/Taopoon Station although the station has not been in use for that long either.

This was some of my talk for students that touched me heartfully during my special lecture on Inclusive Design at DBTM, Thammasat University. During the lecture, We did an experiment illustrating that what would it look, and feel, like to be a disabled. All students were required to perform like in a particular kind of disability such as being blinded and being on wheelchair.

Days ago I posted this an image with a sole comment “such a dangerous footpath”. Today I’d like to elaborate a little more. The footpath is located right next to the elevator when you step off the BTS Victory Monument station. It’s on the “hospital side” (opposite The Ideo Q Victory condo) of the road. Though newly built, this footpath shows signs of malfunction and quickly deteriorates as the followings:

26 September 2020 At Victory Monument, I brought these young students to the ground to give an interview about the rights and equality in getting access. I also provided personal advice from my firsthand experiences. These youths, I admitted, were heavily vibrant and full of creativity. What a fantastic day.

In recent days I came back to exercise heavily. That made my body fitter and at the same time, however, I began to feel badly strange every time I breathe. Today when I looked out the window, I saw the sky unclear and heavy smog was clouding. I then checked the AirVisual app and so shocked once again what I found out…it came back!😱

One pothole for accessible parking is that there is yet “legal punishment” to legally penalize the wrongdoers. It just stated ‘who’ is eligible to park on. I always address this issue that if you want to dissolve this problem completely, we must holistically cover it in every aspects; supporting, encouraging, and punishing. I give you one small, obvious example of “No-Smoking-on-public” law.

A fellow friend of mine was recently hit a jackpot by having an (necessary) accident while he was about to step down from ill-built pedestrian cross bridge, making his rib broken severely. The district’s authority soon came to repair it, after the incident went viral. I was even more surprised by the quality of work repair. You can compare the before-and-after image. What an awful, careless job.

This image took place at Rama9 interaction. It’s a common scene in Bangkok a local is so used to it. We wondered how to cross the road like this. After scrutiny you would realise that even ordinary people find difficulty in crossing it. The crossing is doubly worse, and almost practically impossible, for PWDs. Why? 1. The road and footpath is extremely in different level. The ramp that you see is not functional as it’s not seamless or stepless when you go down from footpath. This might crack down any wheelchair users easily.

This is the photo of the Rama 9 Intersection I took a few days ago. It is a thing that we get used to see when we pass by. I am also the one who has grown up in this city and seen this image since I was a child. Today, I simply think that if we want to make solve this problem, we need to do it by ourselves. Let’s call for action! I invite you all. This problem would be gone, if we “all” work together to fix it. Let’s clean up “our house” together.