Against all odds

PURICH TRIVITAYAKHUN

Bangkok Post : Tuesday September 02, 2008

On the occasion of the National Science and Technology Fair 2008, the National Synchrotron Research Centre (NSRC), in cooperation with the National Science Museum, organised a symposium under the topic "Opportunities for Young Thai Disabled People and World-class Science Education".

The main guest was Jakrada Attaraya, who is the first aurally challenged Thai person to be granted a science scholarship to study abroad. She will continue her master's and doctorate degrees in biotechnology and biochemistry, with emphasis on synchrotron utilisation in protein crystallography.

The scholarship was provided by the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC).

According to Assoc Prof Dr Weerapong Pairsuwan, director of the NSRC, Jakrada has fulfilled all the criteria required by the OCSC and has an excellent academic background and research skills.

Study and life

Jakrada has been deaf since birth. She received a BSc in food technology with 2nd class honours from Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Science. Following her graduation last year, Jakrada worked as an assistant researcher at the National Centre of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. She resigned recently to prepare her future education plans to study at the University of Wisconsin in the US. She will leave Thailand next year. After graduation, she will return to serve the NSRC.

"I was so delighted when I learned that I had got the scholarship, as I thought my competitors had a much better chance," said Jakrada.

The scholarship is the result of her sixth attempt to get a scholarship to study overseas. Last year, she passed the written exams for four science scholarships, but failed the interview sessions.

"I believe that the physically challenged can study science and other subjects, not just special studies [for impaired people]. I have friends like me who also graduated in this field, but they have not been able to pursue their desired careers. I am determined to further my studies in the field I love, so that I can use it to develop my country," she said.

She's a little nervous because this is the first time she will spend time abroad alone. She promises to do her best to bring back knowledge to develop Thailand.

When she was a child, her father discouraged her from learning and using sign language. He encouraged her to practise lip reading instead.

"I was of the opinion that, if she wanted to improve herself, she had to be responsible for herself. She has to learn to live a normal life. Otherwise, her disability will be a limitation," said her father, Wisit Attaraya.

Wisit said he raised Jakrada like a normal person. He tried to boost her morale by continually telling her that her disability did not make her an inferior person.

Jakrada is now practising lip reading in English.

Opportunities for impaired students

The OCSC provides 200 to 300 scholarships each year. It also has a scholarship programme for challenged students to study abroad. Since 2002, it has provided 29 scholarships for the impaired to pursue bachelors', masters' and doctorate degrees.

Jakrada is special, as she did not apply for a scholarship under the scheme for impaired persons. Instead, she competed against normal persons, and won a scholarship in that category.

In the view of Jakrada's parents, although there are various education institutions in Thailand that support disabled people, they are still insufficient.

"Many overseas universities provide centres to help impaired students, which support them educationally. However, only a few in Thailand do. If the Ministry of Education could provide assistance in this matter, it would benefit our children tremendously," explained Wisit.