Published on Dec 5, 2005

The National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) with assistance from the National Telecommunications Commission has drafted telecommunications services guidelines for people with disabilities and elderly people to ensure access to universal services.

Wantanee Phantachat, programme director of the Assistive Technology Centre at Nectec, said the project was aimed at ensuring that telecom companies and service providers make communications services available to everyone on an equal basis.

“The guidelines will focus on how to ensure opportunities for elderly and disabled people to gain access to information and communications services,” said Wantanee.

The guidelines will also determine the format and standard of the development of telecommunications and information services for disabled people so it will be easier for them to use new technology and services. The project will study guidelines from Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan and Korea. She said that the two organisations expected the guidelines would be complete in the second half of next year.

Meanwhile, Thammasat University has set up a disabled student services unit at its Rangsit campus, where disabled students can register for courses, borrow and return books, and search for scholarships.

The university offers 29 scholarships to disabled students. There are 33 such students who study at the university in 13 faculties such as law, engineering and science.

Jirapan Boonnoon

The Nation