Treatment Of The Disabled

[john b good]

For all we know, there is a lobby rallying in Bangkok as we write. Or maybe tomorrow the princess will decide this will be one of her campaigns. Things can change quickly if people mobilized. Education would take a while, but only if thats the one method for change being depended on. Education in combination with many other well funded campaigns could go quicker.

As many people noted, disabled Thai's and their families are not likely to be very empowered, but that is not to say some external group wouldn't come along and be their voice. For example us. If we are all so passionate about this topic and think the Thai people cant take care of it themselves, then why not get off the forum and do something about it instead of bitching and nagging at one another about silly little points?

I wouldn't be surprised if there was some international NGO focused on disabled people. Certainly the human rights org's would be happy to include it in their long list. Believe me, they always need another campaign.

I am not in full belief that the necessary changes would occur in my lifetime, but I am not going to give up hope either. Just think - for 1000's of years slavery was acceptable, but today it is illegal. The start of that shift in perception began with a small group of people and eventually made it around the globe. Not without massive resistance of course.

Sorry to impose my hope onto all of you - but it is an attitude that I must always go with as someone involved in the environmental movement. You can't just throw your hands up and say 'these people will never listen'. Goodness, 30 years ago environmental advocates hated 'the man' and now green business is as popular as renewable energy. I don't think we should give up on everything because of corruption - how weak. Tell me one government that is not corrupt.

I appreciate (and admire) your thoughts and enthusiasm. But they mean zip unless you put your money where your mouth is

I believe that I know of a number of governments that are not corrupt, but that is not the subject here.

I myself have done my share here in the realm but when one volunteers to help one then needs a work permit.

Talking of slavery and it now being illegal "what does that mean?" There are still women and young girls being trafficked into sexual slavery. From right here in Thailand I might add.

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand and yet it is the one activity / proofession that Thailand is best known for in almost every country in the world. And the one activity that flourishes regardless of the financial climate.

Did you know that 450,000 Thai men were visiting prostitutes each and every day as far back as 1992.

Gambling is illegal in Thailand but you, lady would be surprised (perhaps) if you were aware of just how many illegal gambling dens and casinos exist here in Chiang Mai. And in every other city and village in the realm.

Legality has absolutely nothing to do with the equation.

Now having an altruistic attitude is one thing but doing something about it is another.

If you get a group going to work to turn around the apathetic attitudes (regarding people with disabilities) that prevail in the realm count me in.

But don't just talk the talk, you gotta walk it.

Edited October 29, 2009 by john b good

[envirogirl]

I did not mean I would be the one to start the movement, I was merely providing an example of how a group of people could do something to quicken the pace of positive change rather than just point fingers. While this is a worthy cause, I must focus on my passion - environmental justice - as there is lots of work to be done there. That said, I am compassionate and sympathetic for this one, hence my comments which I hope are in some way proactive.

For the record, I said slavery was illegal, not that the practice has completely disappeared. I am not that stupid. My point was that if my neighbors were practicing some form of slavery I could have them brought to justice or at least attempt it. To me, that is a hel_l of a lot better than the past. Ganja is illegal too and well lets just say not all of us are law abiding citizens (ah hem). Prostitution - goodness me - I would not even want to broach that topic on this forum, let alone on a thread that has nothing at all to do with it.

I'll end by suggesting that the owners of establishments in Chiang Mai asses the feasibility of making some small effort sto accommodate disabled people. I believe one poster already mentioned s/he had a frequent customer in a wheel chair. Surely s/he can offer advice on the topic.

[john b good]

I did not mean I would be the one to start the movement, I was merely providing an example of how a group of people could do something to quicken the pace of positive change rather than just point fingers. While this is a worthy cause, I must focus on my passion - environmental justice - as there is lots of work to be done there. That said, I am compassionate and sympathetic for this one, hence my comments which I hope are in some way proactive.

For the record, I said slavery was illegal, not that the practice has completely disappeared. I am not that stupid. My point was that if my neighbors were practicing some form of slavery I could have them brought to justice or at least attempt it. To me, that is a hel_l of a lot better than the past. Ganja is illegal too and well lets just say not all of us are law abiding citizens (ah hem). Prostitution - goodness me - I would not even want to broach that topic on this forum, let alone on a thread that has nothing at all to do with it.

I'll end by suggesting that the owners of establishments in Chiang Mai asses the feasibility of making some small effort sto accommodate disabled people. I believe one poster already mentioned s/he had a frequent customer in a wheel chair. Surely s/he can offer advice on the topic.

No you didn't say that you would be the one to "start the movement" and so it is clear that your altruism doesn't extend to doing anything very much at all "talk is cheap"

To be proactive you have to do something not just talk about it.

The OP started this thread and he knows exactly what is needed.

I am not physically challenged "apart from getting older and slower" but it doesn't need an Albert Einstein to draw a diagram for you.

What is needed is wheelchair ramps at every public facility, bathrooms to cater for persons confined to wheelchairs, hand rails for the physically infirm, public transport that physically disabled people can gain access to and from.

You don't need someone to show you, "just open your eyes"

The pavements are obstructed, there are no ramps from pavements at pedestrian crossings, so in keeping with your various comments do something and not ask a person in a wheelchair why he can or cannot cross the road in safety or get into a shopping mall.

The problems are staring you in the face "but there are none so blind as those who do not want to see"

And as for "I must focus on my passion - environmental justice" let me tell you I have been engaged in environmental protection for close to thirty years. And I have walked the talk in some 14 - 15 countries around the world "best if you don't get me started"

Edited October 29, 2009 by john b good

[DavidOxon]

As a recently new parent, I suddenly realised what a nightmare it must be for

anyone on wheels, crutches to get around. Now I know why I don't see wheelchairs

or baby buggies around much!

2 surprising 'classics' are

Airport Plaza . modern mall, main entrance from the car park has a ramp up to the plaza area, great

but then it's steps either up or down into the mall! Dumb! And you can't park inside with LPG.

Central Kad san Keaw (sp) slightly older shopping mall, has stair only access from all the odd numbered

parking floors, but no signs to tell you such, the lifts/no stair access is only on the even numbered parking floors!!!!

Entrance from the ground level car park is also by stairs only (unless the helpful security guy is there to

guide you to the secret ramp passage!)

In both of these places there are no parking provision to allow doors to fully open for access and egress

of wheelchairs or pushchairs.

To be honest, if someone asked me about disabled people in Thailand, from my experience

I'd have to say there aren't any, or hardly any. It must be a nightmare for them.

David

[PeaceBlondie]

My point about 1945 was to point out that by then a polio victim had been President. Steinmetz, a crippled dwarf, achieved fame by 1895. Edison invented the phonograph by 1877. They were not left to beg or sell lottery tickets. Schools became accessible; so did footpaths. Has a Thai Steven Hawking even finished prathom school?

[Gonzo the Face]

PB, I can't get a grip on which side or your debate you're on....

I don't think that anyone is saying that the physically impaired cannot have a brilliant mind.

But your examples are of the west. In thailand , the disabled are almost always [if they get out of the home at all] selling lottery tickets..... and that will not change, until and unless someone gets it into their heads that these people, while they are perhaps physically disabled, does not necessarily mean mentally disabled.

....and with full, or possibly superior intelligence, if someone can and would get them to the books, the schools, and have the patience to spend time teaching them,,,,,,, you may develop an FDR, Edison or others, in time.

But keep them in a closet until they are in the late teens or twenties and what more can anyone possibly expect, other that a lottery ticket type job.

[Ulysses G.]

Thanks to computers, the disabled can shoot for the stars.

[PeaceBlondie]

Gonzo, I'm on the side of the disabled. I have drawn a disability pension for over 40 years, after the receipt of which I served in several professions. Yes, my best examples for Thailand to emulate are Western. The slogan here should not be the last seven words of a dead culture: "We've never done it that way before."

[Gonzo the Face]

Gonzo, I'm on the side of the disabled. I have drawn a disability pension for over 40 years, after the receipt of which I served in several professions. Yes, my best examples for Thailand to emulate are Western. The slogan here should not be the last seven words of a dead culture: "We've never done it that way before."

Just as I thought PB, working for the IRS causes disability.

Just joking PB hope to meet you someday.

by the way , as I believe you were with IRS, can you define/explain the difference between drawing disability payments and being disabled????

[middlepath]

and some folks are rude as heck too.

Living in Mai Rim it's nice a quite but anytime I go to CM the noise is a little to much.

I visit a close disabled friend in CM. He stays up nights and sleeps during the day. But occasionally he invites me over for lunch.

Every time there is a tenant that does his best to set off a car alarm with his motorbike. You can hear his bike 9 floors up and when he gets to the car with the alarm he gives it a little more gas to set off the alarm. Every day my friend has to go though this it's so sad. I'm not there

when the motorcycles returns but my friends says "he will fall off his MC and need to sleep too" I guess my disabled friend means his Karma is

on the way. Sad really we should all pay extra respect to the disabled. You never know who you are disturbing.

[PeaceBlondie]

by the way , as I believe you were with IRS, can you define/explain the difference between drawing disability payments and being disabled????

Yes. I receive benefits from the VA for a service-connected disability (loss of one eye). My coworker Sue received no such benefits even though she was severely crippled from birth (MS?). Sue earned a BA (brilliant; hard worker), and is retirement age now. My friend's sister was leg-crippled by polio. She earned a BS and MS, and reached GS-14 as a weather forecaster. It's not supposed to be a matter of what you can't do; it's what we can do. Losing an eye didn''t keep one rich Thai from ruling, nor Peter Falk from acting, nor Moshe Dyan from being Minister of Defense, nor Sammy Davis Jr....

[Gonzo the Face]

I think we are on the same wave length

[IanForbes]

I just wanted to point out that a Canadian, Rick Hansen, did more for physically handicapped people than 90% of the countries he visited on his 40,000 mile journey around the world, 25 years ago. He raised over 26 million dollars for research and help for the physically handicapped. Here is a recent video of him doing a bungy jump in his wheel chair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJRCfIOW7AI