APCD Visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand
13 February 2003
The APCD mission team visited the province of Chiang Mai, Thailand on February 13 th, 2003 to study the community-based rehabilitation projects and independent living programs in Chiang Mai.
The mission team visited a self-help group
The mission met with Mr. Somchai Rungsilp, Disability and Development Manager of Handicap International, and Ms. Naiyana Waikham, Office Manager of the Institute of Sustainable Development Education Promotion in Chiang Mai. APCD received extensive knowledge on the CBR project conducted by various organizations in Chiang Mai. From this, the APCD mission consulted with Mr. Somchai Rungsilp about the preparation of APCD's Community- based Rehabilitation Training Program for the region, which is planned to be held in Chiang Mai in June, 2003.
During this visit to Chiang Mai, the APCD mission team attended the seminar on "Sustainability Enhancement of Persons with Disabilities Leader Project" organized by Handicap International. The target groups of this training are leaders of persons with disabilities, who are members of the Provincial Rehabilitation Committee.
The mission visited Huay Sai village in Muang district to observe Independent Living project initiated by self- help organizations. APCD was very impressed to join the interview of two families on the activity of Independent Living. The APCD mission also had the chance to visit many other rural areas in Chiang Mai to study about the CBR program in Chiang Mai. This includes the Pong Yang sub-district, Mae Rim District to meet with sub-district administration organization members to discuss about sub-district administration organization roles and community development activity in the village level.
On this mission,APCD collabourated with the Director of Technical Promotion Office in Chiang Mai. The Director of the Technical Promotion Office promised to provide contribution to activities of APCD in the future and towards APCD's CBR training course coming up in June 2003.
