Note!
As for each domestic flight in Thailand, the number of blind passengers is limited to 8 per each entire aircraft. Thus, in order to avoid any unpleasant and inconvenient circumstance, we would like to warn you to notify your airline while you book the flight tickets.
1. In-Charge Agencies
Thailand Association of the Blind and Ministry of Social Development and Human Security have joined hands with the unions of the blind in Thailand, the network of organizations of the people with disabilities, the network of organizations for the blind in Thailand and other related public and private organizations.
2. Rationale
Thailand has potential and has been successful in arranging international conferences, both the conferences among countries and international organizations, as well as private organizations. It has been empirically evidenced by the world that Thailand can be an excellent host which has culture that facilitate the hosting, the negotiation and the coordination for building mutual understanding.
The World Blind Union – Asia Pacific (WBU AP) is one of the six non-governmental organizations for the blind in the world (WBU), with the main targets being to work for the advancement and good way of life of the blind or people with impaired vision (which are collectively called the ‘blind’) through the building of equivalent opportunities and full participation in the society with dignity, to build awareness of the capabilities of the blind, and to promote the process that helps the blind to help themselves, and to promote WBUAP as the forum for the exchange of knowledge and experiences concerning the blind with the attempt to coordinate the governments in this region to accomplish the objectives predetermined in the constitution. WBUAP is working in three sub-regions, namely, East Asia, Pacific and Oceania, and Southeast Asia.
2. Rationale (Continued)
Lately, Thailand Association of the Blind has hosted the first General Assembly for WBUAP and the WBU Board Meeting between 22nd and 25th September 2001 and for many other relevant projects.
From the experiences from having been working with WBU for a long period of time and from hosting WBU and WBUAP meetings and assembly as mentioned before, Thailand Association of the Blind, with the support from the Commission of Empowerment of the Persons with Disabilities of the Nation, with the Prime Minister being the Chairperson of the Board, has proposed itself as the host for Mid-term General Assembly of the World Blind Union – Asia Pacific (WBU AP), the result of which has been announced on 3rd March 2023.
3. Objectives of the Project
To prepare the promptness and to show the capabilities in arranging Meetings as the host for arranging meetings in greater scales in the future.
To promote the roles of the blind in Thailand in creating collaboration among countries, and to make Thailand become recognized by the global community in terms of people with disabilities and the underprivileged people, which reflect human civilization.
To promote tourism and other cooperative projects that will lead to the generation of revenues in the long run.
To do the research and development of technologies based on the principal of universal design for everybody and assistive technologies for the people with disabilities of each type and the elder.
4. Target Groups
- The blind and related people from Asia-Pacific Countries (21 Countries) for 250 people
- Voluntary staff members, for 80 people
- Administrative team, for 80 people
- Observers 40 people
Total 450 people
Note: It is expected that there will be the blind and related people joining the event for no less than 100 people.
5. Location and Timeframe
Location: Duangjitt Resort & Spa, Phuket Province, Thailand
Timeframe: 27th – 29th November 2023
6. Expected Results
- Thailand will become proficient as the host for the big WBU meeting that will be held in the future, as well as other conferences, seminars and other activities before and after the big meeting.
- The blind in Thailand will have developed life quality in accordance with legal policy and plan for development of life quality of people with incapabilities by government of Thailand.
- The blind in Thailand can play roles in promoting international collaborations and promoting Thailand to be recognized by the global community in terms of people with Incapabilities and underprivileged people, which reflects the civilization.
- Tourism and other collaborative projects that will lead to generation of incomes in the long run.
- Research and development of technologies based on the principal of universal design for everybody and assistive technologies for the people with disabilities of each type and the elder.
- Long Stay Tourism Programs for the blind, people with different types of incapabilities, and especially the elder, from foreign countries that are rich and have welfare money to enable these people to have money to spend in Thailand.