It is time for universal design (UD) to move beyond merely meeting legal requirements and to become part of everyday life, say organisers of the upcoming UD Expo in Bangkok.
Thailand’s ageing society and growing diversity highlight the need for equal access to infrastructure and services, said Pinya Jamroonsart, deputy director-general of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
The department, under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, is staging the expo in partnership with the Thais with Disabilities Foundation (TDF) and Thammasat University.
Thailand has about 14.16 million people aged 60 and over and 2.25 million registered persons with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, around 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, live with some form of disability.
‘These figures reflect the fact that equal access to infrastructure is not an issue for one particular group, but a fundamental challenge for national development,’ Ms Pinya said on Tuesday.
She said universal design should be treated as a core principle in the design of homes, transport systems, roads, pavements, buildings, products and services, rather than simply a compliance requirement.
Supachip Dithet, chairman of the TDF, said sustainable universal design must begin by listening to users and viewing accessibility as an interconnected system.
‘Design that provides equal access for everyone can help remove barriers to education, employment, travel and services, while creating economic opportunities and new markets for businesses,’ he said.
Assoc Prof Chumkhet Sawaengcharoen, head of the Centre for Universal Design and Environment at Thammasat University, said research must be translated into practical standards, design guidelines and policy recommendations that can be adopted by public agencies and businesses.
The UD Expo for Persons with Disabilities and Better Living for All will be held on July 24 and 25 at Halls 9-10 of Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre in Muang Thong Thani.
The event will feature more than 50 booths representing 80 organisations, along with over 25 panel discussions.