Education for People with Disabilities and Social Enterprises in Thailand 2023. (Thailand DIST/ENTR 2023)

           People with disabilities are a vulnerable group that governments worldwide pay attention to in order to enhance their quality of life in all dimensions. The issue of disability is directly related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with indicators covering up to the first 8 goals. It reflects that people with disabilities can be either a group that hinders national development or a group that promotes the country’s economy. This depends on the policy direction and attention of the government. The main goal is to improve the quality of life and promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities, enabling them to have sufficient economic capabilities to live independently. According to the data, a significant number of people with disabilities, when provided with vocational development, choose their own professions. Some groups of people with disabilities form social enterprises to promote and empower individuals with disabilities to access economic and social resources without relying heavily on government mechanisms. Thailand is one of the successful countries in Southeast Asia in promoting the quality of life for people with disabilities through education, vocational development, and employment promotion. This can be seen from the establishment of numerous private sector development organizations that focus on education, vocational development, and job creation, spread throughout the country and with various international organizations visiting to study and exchange experiences. 

Delaware State University, in the United States of America, is a leading institution in education and research on disabilities, ranked as the second in the country in education for people with disabilities. The university has a program that continuously sends undergraduate students who are interested in disabilities to study and exchange experiences with other countries so graduates can collect data for further study and advanced research.

Delaware State University has contacted Burapha University through the Fulbright Scholarship Alumni Association (Fulbright), with the purpose of engaging Burapha University as the project operator. The project took place from January 6th, 2023, to February 1st, 2023.

 

 The objectives of the project are:

  1. To enhance understanding and gain experiences in various dimensions related to disabilities in Thailand.
  2. To study the models and management of social enterprises for people with disabilities in Thailand.

The outcomes for the community and society include:

  1. The community and society foster understanding of individuals with disabilities and embraces the notion that their knowledge, abilities, and potential are no different from those of typical individuals.
  2. This has enhanced collaboration among various organizations, both domestic and international, in providing support and assistance to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities.
  3. People with disabilities receive comprehensive and tangible care across all sectors.
  4. People with disabilities play a crucial role in actively contributing to the advancement of society, fostering peaceful and inclusive communities, and reducing social inequalities to promote equal opportunities for all.

            Moreover, the project fosters positive relationships and promotes the development of academic cooperation networks between Burapha University and Delaware State University.

By Academic Service Centre, Burapha University