Published on Sep 12, 2005

Wheelchair-bound people will resort to legal channels in their stepped-up efforts to demand public conveniences as prescribed by the Constitution.

“We will lodge a complaint with the Administrative Court,” said Lt-Colonel Torpong Kulkanchit, the development chief of a group working for people with disabilities.

People in wheelchairs are asking that government agencies provide more ramps, special toilets and parking spaces for the disabled.

Following a discussion with Administrative Court officials on Thursday, their representatives announced they were planning to submit their requests to police stations, district offices, provincial halls and transport offices. They said if these agencies failed to act, they would lodge a complaint with the Administrative Court.

Torpong said a clear legal victory for the disabled would bring immense benefits not only to them but also to the elderly. “The country is going to have a high percentage of elderly people within the next five to 10 years. Half of these elderly people have impaired vision and mobility,” he explained.

Thirayuth Sukhonthawit, who heads the Nonthaburi Disabled People’s Association, stressed that their restricted physical mobility was only one impediment to the disabled in their efforts to lead lives like able-bodied people; the other was a dearth of public conveniences facilitating the movement of the disabled in public spaces.

“The main problem lies with society and its environment,” he said. “We are not asking for anything special. All we are asking for is a chance to live like others.”

Thirayuth said wheelchair-bound people had aspirations like anyone else. They wanted to study in school, go shopping, eat out and watch movies in theatres.

According to statistics, more than 500,000 Thais have physical disabilities. This figure does not include the deaf and mute or the visually or mentally impaired.

The Nation