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Abstract: Design of Facilities for Persons with Disabilities and Related Terminologies
Professor Emeritus Kamthorn Kulachol
Associate Fellow of the Academy of Arts,
The Royal Society of Thailand
In the past, persons with disabilities (PwD) were a group that was
overlooked by society and were denied the opportunity to live comfortably like
the general public. In 1993, the United Nations recognized the necessity of
equal opportunities and issued “Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.” In 1991, Thailand passed the

“Disability Rehabilitation Act” and in 1998 signed the “Declaration on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities in Thailand.” Currently, the largest group of people
with disabilities is those with mobility impairment or physical disabilities who
account for more than half of the overall population of PwD in Thailand.
The Ministry of Interior’s Department of Public Works and Town & Country
Planning is a government agency that issued the first ministerial regulations
in 1995, governing the design and construction of structures and facilities

within buildings for PwD and the elderly. Internationally, the concept of
facility design has evolved from designing for a single group of PwD to designing
for a variety of groups, including the elderly, pregnant women, young children
(particularly babies in perambulators), and ultimately for the general public,
advocating for the principle that “Separate is not equal.” As a result, several
new terms were created. Despite the fact that these words have the same
meaning, each country has its own favorite. Thailand also confronts a lack of
consistency in translating certain words, as numerous organizations or institutions
translate differently based on comprehension and satisfaction.

Keywords: Persons with disabilities, Equalization of opportunities, Facility design,
Related terminologies, Diverse Thai translations