Published on Sep 13, 2001

Imagine you're shopping downtown when you need the bathroom urgently. 'No sweat,' I hear you say, just dive into the nearest hotel or department store. But when you get there all the doors are too narrow and you can't squeeze through them. The situation gets increasingly desperate, as you dash from one place to another with the same result, until you reach total embarrassment.

Only a bad dream to you and me perhaps, but for someone in a wheelchair this is often a nightmarish reality.

A simple process, from climbing stairs to doing up a button can be an impossible task for the disabled and, while certain quarters in Thailand are making efforts to improve their standard of living, there is still a lot left to be desired.

"Thai society's attitude towards handicapped people is a major problem," says Don Willcox - founder member of The Foundation to Encourage the Potential of Disabled Persons in Chiang Mai, and winner of the 1999 Thai Prime Minister's "Volunteer of the Year" Award.

"Many normal people consider these unfortunate individuals as useless and a burden to society. Even worse, they're frequently seen as an omen of bad luck and cast out of their family environment. In this situation, there's little sympathy shown because their dilemma is believed to be payback time for an evil previous life."

However, Don believes that nothing could be further from the truth, and he cites arguably the world's leading physicist - Professor Stephen Hawking - who holds 12 honorary degrees and conducts lectures worldwide despite being totally paralysed with motor neurone disease. But Hawking is lucky insofar that he has receives maximum support from his family, friends and the latest technology.

Unlike 19 year-old Ganjana, who was found crawling in the gutters of San Pa Tong. Cerebral Palsy had rendered her a mute who was unable to stand, ostracised and left to fend for herself in hopeless conditions.

Don and his wife Sunan took her back to Chiang Mai and provided therapy and a wheelchair, but with inadequate space for accommodation at the foundation, Ganjana had to return to San Pa Tong where sadly she was once again rejected and put to the mercy of the streets.

Preecha - a victim of polio since he was six - recently lost his Bt50 per day job creating artwork and is currently forced to sleep nights in his wheelchair under the cover of shop doorways.

The stories of disabled people being thrown out of families and villages are endless and even when they are lucky enough to find employment, they are very poorly paid and the workspace they're provided with is often where the general public cannot see them.

But Don was quick to point out that all is not doom and gloom. "My wife and I formed the foundation in 1993 as a volunteer organisation without religious or political affiliation, and it's legally registered with his Majesty's government. Two years ago, we moved to our present premises at Rajapakinai 133/1 and started the Chiang Mai Disabled Center."

The Centre's commitment is to promote and encourage the health, education, employment and dignity of disabled persons in northern Thailand. In order to achieve this aim, those who are handicapped must be reached and taught to overcome the social stigma attached to their disability. This comes before boosting their morale to the point of recognising their full potential.

The new location has enabled Don to develop quickly and provide greater facilities such as modern technology and some accommodation.

Don added, "Since we opened our centre we've been able to take in six boarders at the premises and house another three in rented rooms nearby. Five full time disabled staff have also been employed. They manage the Internet Cafe and teach computer; provide Thai traditional massage; run the bicycle rental; deal with the telephone; teach music, English and Thai; sell local art and craft made by disabled people; and work in the wheelchair workshop.

"Outside help also comes in the form of visiting physical and occupational therapists, and Dr Phrasuk - who provides a monthly medical clinic. We also arrange free transportation for those finding it difficult to reach us."

The wheelchair workshop has been the centre's latest innovation, set up with the help of Geoff Thorsby, who is a mechanical engineer. Not only will the centre now be able to add to the number of wheelchairs donated by the Rotary Club, but it will also provide the tuition needed to control the vehicle.

Nevertheless, with the inexhaustible number of disabled needing help in Thailand, funding and human resources are always welcome.

"We're very lucky to have regular sponsors such as Microsoft Thailand, the Republic of Germany, Abilis Foundation (Finland), Ausaid, Liliane Fonds and Royal Netherlands Embassy," said Don. "But with increasing costs, we're always busy seeking more financial support. Volunteer work is equally important to us and we welcome anyone who wants to help, be they from Thailand or overseas."

With this in mind, Michael Jacobsen - a volunteer from Denmark, suggested forming a support group in order to sustain current operations and enhance development. So far, this group comprises helpers from the USA, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Ireland.

It has decided that the centre and foundation would become financially and performance accountable for any future assistance generated and the Chiang Mai Disabled Center would acquire a full time manager. This more professional approach should help to sustain and develop current operations and lead towards finding a better and permanent location that might provide housing and rehabilitation.

So if you're thinking twice about helping the disabled in Thailand, imagine working a computer with no fingers, and the next time you negotiate a flight of stairs or enter a public loo, just envisage you're trying to do it in a wheelchair.

The foundation can be found on - www.infothai.com/disabled/ - and it can be easily contacted via email, phone and fax on assist@loxinfo.co.th, 66 (053) 213941/852172 and 66 (053) 240935, respectively.

Bob Cummins