Frogmountain Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Compassionate? Superstitious? Somewhere in between? Anyone had first-hand experience with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHolmesJr Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 It's a bit que sera sera if you ask me: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I had accumulated a lot of "Award" points at my local bank in Bangkok that could be exchanged for household items that I did not need. I asked the bank manager if there were any local children's homes that I could donate the points to. She located a nearby, privately run residential school for autistic children and contacted the director for me. They very much needed fans as the facility was not air conditioned and were able to use the points to get 3 nice pedestal fans. The director took me on a tour of the facility and I was impressed with what they were doing with little money. They had about 30-50 children who looked clean and healthy. Though some were clearly troubled and difficult to deal with, the staff seemed compassionate and understanding. I was impressed with the schools dedication to these often marginalized kids and have given them my bank points several times since then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangon04 Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Difficult to shake the impression that many Thai kids who have to attend government schools in Thailand could become kids with special needs..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatfreak Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Setting up a Sailing school for Thai disabled- and special need youngster www.Sailingwithadifference.com the surrounding bureaucracy would give most enthusiast volunteers the shivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baerboxer Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 On an individual basis, some people smile at my son, are friendly to him whilst other stare and a few make rude remarks that his wheel chair takes up too much space in the elevator or where ever. Some places really cater for those with special needs. The staff at the Thai passport office were great, as were the security staff at the flea market near The Walk. Same at Asiatique. Special parking, help taking wheel chair out etc. School - his school has a special class for children with special needs. Teachers are sent on regular courses. Thai disabled association that runs these has links to Aussie equivalent. The current HM and previous two have all been really good and proactive in this area. He receives a small monthly payment from the government and there is a rumor schooling will be free next year. Health - children's hospital excellent. Other hospital that provides wheelchair, walkers, weights and special boots brilliant. Overall pretty good, and about the same as we've encountered elsewhere, with the caveat less buildings, especially shops and restaurants, are disabled aware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotpoom Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Shortly after meeting my now wife, I was disturbed to notice she showed little sympathy for handicapped people. I was told by a friend that that is common enough with Buddists, they believe in Karma and whether you have good fortune or bad fortune...it is what has been mapped out for you...or earned by past events if you like. So therefore, no jealousy or resentments....just an acceptance that it's what one deserves? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotpoom Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 P.S. Myself I believe in Karma of my own making....nothing to do with my ancestors....and bad bad Karma can always be corrected by right actions. Good actions make for Good results....can be no other way...no matter how it appears at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike324 Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Thais as a whole are pretty compassionate when dealing or helping with special need. That's in the helping point of view, but when it comes to talking about it in conversation - their face expression tends to show some negativity towards it - not saying they dislike special needs, but there is a stigma attach to it. As with any country, there are bound to be folks who stare, I feel like Asians tend to stare more than Westerners though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godden Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 NOW THEN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicowoodduck Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Well, according to the Father Ray Foundation, there are over 2,000 kids with Special Needs just in the Chonburi area alone. The local schools only provide limited services for these exceptional students and of course no full time help. Parents are not able to work full time and care for their children at the same time. The government only provides the very basic funding needs for this kids. The Father Ray Foundation hopes to fill the void with a new Special Needs center opening about mid year 2016, but is in need of on-going donations for equipment and facility running costs for this new center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MobileContent Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 According to the villagers they say in the past life they had many misdeeds and thats why they are like sad and it sbetter to give money to the monk then to them. TIT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquorice Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 The SIL has a 15 year old boy with downs syndrome. Thais can be compassionate or very suspicious and wary. I suppose like every Country, how they react depends on how well they're educated about people with disabilities. I often bump into a lady in the local Big C store who has an autistic child. He usually wants some Candy that I fear Mum cannot afford, so I give him the candy and mum the money. Now when he sees me, he runs across and we spend 10 minutes deciding on the Candy choice. I think his mother is a little embarrassed and always refuses, I always insist. What some of these autistic kids lack in certain areas they make up for in others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig krup Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but I thought someone reading it might know - are kids with one Thai and one European parent (let's face it, European father) less likely to have problems? Steve Jones, the geneticist, said that humanity's genetic problems won't be solved by geneticists, they'll be solved by the 747 jet. You'd think that all the recessive genes would instantly become inactive with Thai/European genes. I mean, how far would a Brit have to go back to find a common ancestor with a girl from Isaan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman20 Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 yes tolerance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benalibina Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I had accumulated a lot of "Award" points at my local bank in Bangkok that could be exchanged for household items that I did not need. I asked the bank manager if there were any local children's homes that I could donate the points to. She located a nearby, privately run residential school for autistic children and contacted the director for me. They very much needed fans as the facility was not air conditioned and were able to use the points to get 3 nice pedestal fans. The director took me on a tour of the facility and I was impressed with what they were doing with little money. They had about 30-50 children who looked clean and healthy. Though some were clearly troubled and difficult to deal with, the staff seemed compassionate and understanding. I was impressed with the schools dedication to these often marginalized kids and have given them my bank points several times since then. Good man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko123 Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Far less social ostracism than in the West. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Setting up a Sailing school for Thai disabled- and special need youngster www.Sailingwithadifference.com the surrounding bureaucracy would give most enthusiast volunteers the shivers. Go for it regardless of the bureaucracy you have to cut through! My adult nephew slowly became functionally blind as a result of an accident. When he hit the point where he could no longer do activities he enjoyed, he became depressed and lethargic and admitted to contemplating suicide. He lived in a coastal Massachusetts community and somehow got referred to a program similar to what you describe; sorry I forget the name. He was reluctant at first but with a lot of positive encouragement, he was soon taking sailing lessons tailored for blind students. It wasn't long before he became passionate about the sport and began sailing in competitive races, even traveling to New Zealand for an international "Blind Regatta". He is now an instructor for the program and travels around the area recruiting new members. The degree to which this program contributed to turning his life around can not be overstated. It gave him the confidence not only to sail "solo", but to accept and take on other challenges, enabling him to start his life again, learning in new ways to do things he had enjoyed in the past. His entire outlook turned around. I wish you success in starting your own program. I have seen the impact that it can have....it will be, 100 times over, worth the effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csabo Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I was with my daughter in the states one day when she was about four or five years old when someone wheeled by in a wheel chair. She looked the gentleman square in the eye and exclaimed "NICE BIKE!!". We all, including the disabled man had a good laugh. The only special needs child I have encountered here is the 5 year old daughter of the caretaking staff of my bungalow group. She has Down's Syndrome and is by far the life of our little family here. Always helping out with chores and laughing and playing games with everyone. While the family is Burmese not Thai and I do not usually see her out in town so can not answer your question directly, I can say that her condition is the last thing anyone here sees when we interact with her. This was a welcome thread. Nice to hear some positive experiences regarding those often forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soihok Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 My daughter is severely mentally disabled. Most Thai people in the village know her and can be very helpful. The general attitude is linked to "karma" , unfortunately. There is no help from the government but if its government help we wanted we would move to the UK (she holds Thai and UK citizenship) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacky54 Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Can anyone prove karma exists? it's a nonsense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soihok Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 It is a belief of the Buddhist religion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig krup Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Can anyone prove karma exists? it's a nonsense Well, for God to become Man in Christ would (presumably) require that God-Man not to be able to walk on water and raise the dead. Men can't do that, so if you can then you know yourself not to be Man. This obvious incoherence doesn't, however, seem to trouble too many Christians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyberfarang Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Give them to the grandparents or other relatives to care for them and avoid being on the scene as often as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soihok Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 This is also normal practice with many children, whose parents have to work to make ends meet So not a valid comment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soihok Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 In my daughters case, she did stay with her grandparents as we were working in Malaysia, not a place I consider safe or helpful where disabled children are involved. However, we have moved back to Singapore which is in a different league to Malaysia and Thailand with regards to the disabled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soihok Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 My disabled daughter is back with us as a family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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