Thailand Association of the Blind
Bangkok, Thailand 27 May 2003
Director and Professors from Ratchasuda College
Representatives of the APCD visited the Thailand Association of the Blind (TAB) on 26 May 2003 to exchange ideas/working experiences for persons with visual impairments in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific Region. TAB showed a strong interest in becoming an associate organization of the APCD Project.
Mr. Somchai Puneakwong, President of TAB, said that TAB is willing to work with the APCD Project, as APCD Deputy Director, Ms. Saranpat Anumatrajkij, expressed appreciation for TAB 's contribution to the APCD Project and had offered the association an application form to become an associate organization. In fact, the Vice-President of TAB, Mr. Monthian Buntan, has been, working as a member of the preparation committee for the APCD training course, the Regional Workshop on Web-based Networking, which will be held from 21 July to 1 August 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand.
TAB has been working for Thai persons with visual disabilities for 36 years, and now has 44 projects in 21 provinces throughout Thailand, The ultimate goal of TAB's activities is to encourage self-expression and self-determination of persons with visual impairements. A self-gathering project is a major project that TAB is currently working on. They ask persons with a visual disability living in rural areas who do not go out of home often , to get together somewhere in town where no facilities and equipment are generally available, and then provide a training course for them to become more empowered. The project has always looked for potential persons with visual disabilities and has actually found them. Through the project, TAB expects to double its membership nationwide, Mr. Monthian said.
APCD was impressed with this project since it could be a role model of a grassroot activity for not only persons wiht visual disabilities, but also persons with other types of disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region. TAB and APCD agreed to share this type of information, especially regional news and activities of persons who are visually impaired. APCD is willing to distribute information related to persons with visual disabilities through the APCD website and newsletter
Website: http://www.tabod.net/
