Independent Living Training (January 27-February 1, 2003)
Since 2001, a training program on Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities through JICA's Community Empowerment Programme has been implemented by the Redemptorist Vocational School for the Disabled in cooperation with 3 provincial organizations of People with Disabilities in Thailand. The purpose of the Program is to empower Thai citizens with disabilities in society by training local leaders of people with disabilities to achieve the concepts and skills of independent living, peer-counseling and management of independent living centers, as well as enhancing public awareness and understanding on the rights of persons with disabilities living independently in the community. This year, about three hundred people concerned with disability will participate in a 1-day seminar on 27th January 2003, with 40 Thai local leaders of people with disabilities to be trained in peer-counseling for one week following the seminar.
Training Program on Independent Living (IL) of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
Governmental organization in charge of the training
Office of the Committee for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, Department of Public Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Thailand
Non-governmental organization in charge of implementation of the training
Redemptorist Vocational School for the DisabledBox 1, Pattaya City, Chonburi Thailand 20260,
Tel +66 (038) 716 247, 716 248, 716 249, Fax +66 (38) 716 543
Email: school@rvsd.ac.th, Website: www.rvsd.ac.th
Collaborating Organizations
- Chonburi Association of People with Disabilities
- Nonthaburi Society of Persons with Disabilities
- Nakornpratom Club for the Disabled
Place: Bangkok, Chonburi province, Nonthaburi province and Nakornpratom province
Background Information
Regarding socio-economic development, there has been remarkable progress in the field of disability in Thailand. Organizations of persons with disabilities (PWDs) are the key partners in planning and managing services for PWDs. They develop strong self-help movements, through which their voices are well heard in the process of policy making.
The report, "Thematic Evaluation on JICA's Support for Persons with Disabilities in Thailand" which has recently been issued states that many Thai PWDs, especially in rural areas, are still left without adequate services. PWDs themselves need to take a crucial role in planning, initiating, and providing these services for PWDs in their community. Active PWDs are expected to serve as instruments for educating the community and as role models for encouraging other disabled persons.
PWDs can effectively exert their leadership in social development for their peers, especially for those living in rural areas without adequate services if they acquire the concepts and skills of independent living(IL) . IL concepts stemmed from the U.S.A. in the 1970s, and spread to other developed countries. Japan is one of these countries which has developed services for PWDs through IL centers managed by PWDs.
Self-determination and self-control are two main concepts of IL. The concepts and skills of IL, peer-counseling and management of IL centers are able to contribute to the development of services and empowerment of PWDs in the community in Thailand.
Objectives & Output
The main objectives of the three year IL training program are:- to enhance the understanding of IL among governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with disability
- to train leaders of PWDs in 3 target provinces (Chonburi, Nonthaburi, and Nakornpratom provinces) to attain the concepts and skills of IL, peer-counseling and the management of IL centers
- to disseminate the above concepts and skills through trained leaders of PWDs to disabled people and relevant people in the community in the 3 target provinces
- to prepare for regional/international training in IL to be held in the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability
In order to effectively achieve the above main objectives, the objective and expected output for each year are as follows:
| 2001 |
Objective: Promotion of understanding and technical transfer of IL
Output:
1. Development and dissemination of Thai information on IL concepts
2. Promotion of understanding of IL among Thai people concerned with disability
3. Transfer of IL concepts and skills to leaders of people with disabilities in the 3 target provinces
| 2002 |
Objective: Promotion of understanding and technical transfer of peer-counseling in connection with IL
Output:
4. Development and dissemination of Thai information on peer-counseling
5. Promotion of understanding of peer-counseling among Thai people concerned with disability
6. Transfer of peer-counseling knowledge/skills to leaders of people with disabilities in the 3 target provinces
| 2003 |
Objective: Promotion of understanding and technical transfer of IL center management
Output:
7. Development and dissemination of Thai information on IL center management
8. Promotion of understanding of IL center management among Thai people concerned with disability
9. Transfer of knowledge/skills for IL center management to leaders of people with disabilities in the 3 target provinces.
History of the implementing organization
The Redemptorist Vocational School for the Disabled was established in 1984, by Fr. Raymond Brennan, a priest of the Redemptorist mission to Thailand. The school was founded since there was a need of good vocational training for the disabled. Although vocational training for the disabled did exist elsewhere in Thailand, the quality of education was lacking.
The school has been registered as a private school for disabled persons in Thailand in November 1988. Approximately 1200 graduates have joined the work force throughout Thailand.
Objectives of the implementing organization
The main objective of the school is to educate and train disabled young men and women in a professional trade so that they will be able to support themselves in the future.
Activities of the implementing organization
The school provides the following vocational training:- Electronic and computer repair
- Computer business
- Computer programming
- E-commerce
- English language
Besides this, the school works in various programs in development of disabled persons both at the local and national levels:
- Creating a web-site www.flyingwheelchair.org, which contains information for disabled persons
- Running an out-reach program to disabled persons in the community in Chonburi province
Promotion of a non-handicapping environment in Pattaya city, etc. Relationship between the implementing organization and the Government (its relevance in the country)
The school always provides concerned governmental organizations with substantial advice attained through its successful experience in vocational training of disabled persons.
The school works closely with the:
- Office of Committee for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, Department of Public Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
- Department of Labor Skills Development, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
- Chonburi Public Welfare office
- Pattaya City Administration
Besides these organizations, to promote IL in the Asia-Pacific region, the school will collaborate with the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), which will be established in Bangkok 2004. Before the establishment, a new division solely for APCD under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (tentative: officially from October 2002) will prepare and implement Asia-Pacific regional training courses on IL in cooperation with the school and other relevant organizations.
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