Paper Title
The Implementation of The Thai Government�s Policy on The Promotion and Enhancement of The Quality of Life of The Disabled in Thailand
Abstract
This research aims to at obtaining creditable recommendations which would ensure a more efficient and widespread implementation of the policy under investigation in which full account is taken of the equal rights and human dignity of the physically disabled. In this qualitative investigation, the researcher collected data from government documents, academic writings and from in-depth interviews conducted with key informants. These key informants consisted of three groups of subjects. The first group consisted of high-ranking administrators implementing the policy under study at the National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (NEP) and the Department of Social Development and Welfare (DSDW), MSDHS. The second group consisted of operational officials, i.e. those concerned with providing assistance to those having social problems under the auspices of DSDW, MSDHS in Bangkok Metropolis and those working in Provincial Social Development and Human Security Offices (PSDHSO) in the greater Bangkok Metropolitan area. These offices were in the following provinces: Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, and Samut Sakhon. The third group consisted of representatives from a variety of organizations for the physically challenged. These representatives were from organizations for the visually impaired; the hearing impaired, and the mobility impaired. The instrument of research was an in-depth interview form. Major data were collected from interviews with high-ranking administrators, operational personnel who were members of the civil service, and those who were members of private sector organizations as well as those from organizations for the physically disabled. The recommendations are as follows :
1. Rules and governmental regulations concerning the disabled should be quickly reviewed and suitably revamped in light of a number of changes and fluid socio-cultural context.
2. The emphasis or reemphasis should be on the empowerment of the disabled so that they may live with dignity and wholesomely.
3. Quick and continuous implementation of the policy of creating and maintaining proper facilities and healthy physical environment for the disabled.
Keywords- Recommendations for efficient implementation, Human equality, Human dignity of the physically disabled.