Bangkok, February 5th, 2026
The Council of Persons with Disabilities of Thailand (สมาคมสภาคนพิการทุกประเภทแห่งประเทศไทย) organized a high-profile event titled “Scanning Political Parties’ Policies on Persons with Disabilities: Promises or Just Vote-Grabbing?” at the Thammasat University Rangsit Campus.
The forum, held on the second floor of the Combined Lecture Building 1, was chaired by Mr. Witthayut Bunnag, President of the Council. It brought together representatives from nine major political parties, along with disability associations and interested persons with disabilities, for an open and direct discussion on their commitments to disability rights.
The Council discussed the critical importance of the forthcoming election and referendum, scheduled for February 8, in ensuring that voters, particularly persons with disabilities, choose parties with genuine vision, structural reforms, and equitable welfare policies.
The event wanted to provide civil society with a platform to examine and hold parties accountable for their proposed policies, determining whether they are feasible, capable of building true equality, or merely election-season rhetoric.
The nine participating parties were:
– Pheu Thai Party
– Democrat Party
– Thai Progressive Party (พรรคไทยก้าวใหม่)
– New Opportunity Party (พรรคโอกาสใหม่)
– People’s Party (พรรคประชาชน)
– Thai Sang Thai Party (พรรคไทยสร้างไทย)
– Kla Tham Party (พรรคกล้าธรรม)
– Economy Party (พรรคเศรษฐกิจ)
– Bhumjaithai Party
The forum was co-organized with key partner organizations, including the Center for Universal Design at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Architecture and Planning, the Foundation for the Blind under Royal Patronage (พระมหาไถ่เพื่อการพัฒนาคนพิการ), the Foundation for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities, the Association of the Blind of Thailand, the Association of the Deaf of Thailand, the Association of Persons with Disabilities of Thailand, the Association for the Mentally Ill of Thailand, the Association of Parents of Intellectually Disabled Persons of Thailand, and the Thai Autism Parents Association.
The program was structured in three main sessions:
1. Proposals from representatives of six types of disabilities, aligned with the 10 resolutions of the National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities. Moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arunee Limmani and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chumkhet Saengcharoen.
2. Presentations by the nine parties on their policies to advance the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities. Moderated by Dr. Suphatham Mongkolsawat, Secretary-General of the Foundation for the Blind under Royal Patronage.
3. Policy debate and Q&A session, led by Mr. Chusak Chantayanon, Secretary-General of the Council. This segment focused on key issues, including disability laws, education for persons with disabilities, employment of persons with disabilities in state agencies, and reform of the National Fund for Persons with Disabilities, areas long awaited for meaningful change by the disability community.
The Council described the event as a major step forward in empowering persons with disabilities as rights-holders and voters. It opened a transparent space for them to scrutinize parties’ ideas, policies, and sincerity directly.
By bringing parties together to present and defend their positions, the forum reinforced that disability policies must be a core national agenda. Persons with disabilities represent a significant force in Thai society, citizens ready to exercise their voting rights and help shape the country’s future based on principles of equality and justice in a democratic system.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
