Let’s Build a City of Kindness — Where Everyone Belongs
By RISC | 3 weeks ago
Did You Know? In Thailand, there are millions of persons with disabilities, yet only a small proportion can live freely and safely. The main challenge often doesn’t lie in their abilities but in the environments around them, which still fall short of supporting truly independent living. According to data from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (as of April 30, 2025), there are 2,242,693 persons with disabilities in Thailand, accounting for 3.39% of the population.The most common types of disabilities include Physical or mobility impairments: 51.98%, Hearing or communication impairments: 19.28%, Visual impairments: 7.65%, Mental or behavioral impairments: 7.34%, Among all working-age persons with disabilities, only 24.26% are employed.In Thailand, disabilities are categorized into seven types — visual, hearing or communication, physical, mental or behavioral, intellectual, learning, and autism spectrum disorder. Some individuals experience multiple disabilities at once, making daily life even more challenging.Why Should We Understand Different Types of Disabilities? Because awareness empowers us to design spaces that respond to diverse needs and ensure equal access to everyday life. Imagine a city where buildings and public spaces are designed so that everyone — including persons with disabilities — can live independently and enjoy equal opportunities.So how can we make daily life easier and more inclusive?Here are some key inclusive design ideas for different types of impairments:
Design for Persons with Physical Disabilities: Spaces and facilities should enable smooth mobility and accessibility. Floors should be level throughout; if changes in level occur, ramps should be provided with a maximum slope of 1:12. Sliding doors are preferable. Corridors and doorways should be at least 90 cm wide with no obstructions. Turning spaces should have a diameter of at least 150 cm. Handrails should be continuous, 4 cm in diameter, and 80–90 cm high from the floor.
Design for Persons with Visual Impairments: Most individuals use a white cane to detect obstacles. Walkways should be at least 120 cm wide. Braille signs should be placed 120–150 cm above floor level for easy reach. Use tactile paving — dotted patterns for warnings and linear patterns for directional guidance. Sound cues are essential, such as beeping traffic lights, elevator floor announcements, and auditory alerts for hazards.
Design for Persons with Hearing Impairments: When sound cannot be used, visual or tactile signals become vital. Include text captions with any video or audio messages. Use color codes or symbols to indicate important areas. Replace auditory alarms with flashing lights or vibration alerts. Provide subtitles or sign language interpretation in videos or films.
Design for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Since individuals may be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to stimuli, spaces should be calm and non-overstimulating. Use warm light tones and conceal direct light sources. Avoid strong scents or air fresheners. Choose soft materials to minimize noise and injury risk. Use furniture with rounded edges or add padding to sharp corners. Maintain clean, smooth surfaces to reduce sensory triggers. Provide quiet rooms for emotional regulation when overstimulated.
National Day of Persons with Disabilities — November 8, this day celebrates the value and dignity of persons with disabilities, promoting equality and inclusion across society. Everyone deserves equal rights and opportunities.At RISC and MQDC, we continue to champion inclusive design and raise awareness of environments that work for everyone. Through MQDC’s design standards, we strive to ensure that every individual can live confidently, safely, and independently — a true reflection of our vision for a “Kindness Society” that cares for all.For more information on inclusive design: https://asa.or.th/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BAEDRFA.pdf or https://surl.li/igydxeStory by Dr. Sarigga Pongsuwan, Vice President of RISC and Head of Happiness Science Hub
References byDepartment of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (2025)Nuanwan Thuaycharoen (2022). Designing Homes for Children with Autism, Center of Universal Design, Kasetsart UniversityAssociation of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (2014). Guidelines for Universal Design