On 27 July 2022, Ms. Thitiporn Chirasawadi, the Director of Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, led Devawongse Varopakarn Institute team and University students from Southern Thailand to visit APCD. They learned more about capacity building and vocational skills development for Thai Persons with Disabilities from the APCD programs.

On Monday 25 July 2022, Mr. Aj Wisuthithawornwong, the manager of CSR Management of Thai Oil Public Company Limited., A Company of PTT Group, led his team visit the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability or APCD to call on Mr. Piroon Laismit, the APCD Executive Director, seeking possibilities for collaborations.

It was held at the “Workshop to support Business sector for Persons with Disabilities organized by the United Nations Development Programme Thailand and Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

On July 13, 2022, representatives from the Intellectual Disability Association in Laos, Ms Phouanemaly, president, and Mr Watcharapol Chuengcharoen, Chief of Networking and Collaboration, APCD from Thailand, paid a visit to the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Mr Park Jook Seok, Director of the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD) Agency, and Ms Jun Min-Jeon, Director General Manager of the Communication and Cooperation Department of KEAD Agency, facilitated the lecture and study tour.

Trainees with disabilities, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, gain confidence when interacting with customers because of a working mock-up room on skill development practices for enhancing their capacity. The practices supported them in advancing their careers in the future.

Meeting with V-DREAM Ltd. representatives (Korea Employment Security Association for the Disabled) to promote disability services for employment of people with disabilities in Korea.

On 14 July 2022, Mr. Watcharapol Chuengcharoen, Chief of Networking and Collaboration, presented Thailand's situation on the employment of people with disabilities and the practice of vocational training programs for people with disabilities, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, through Disability Inclusive Business (DIB)approach at the International Conference to promote employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities ( both onsite and online channel).

Mr. Taisuke Miyamoto, Liaison, the Disabled People´s International (DPI) Asia-Pacific Region representative is an honorable guest speaker pointed out Labor force as an integral part of a human being.

Meeting with representatives from Korea Disabled People's Development Institute (KODDI) to get the latest information on creating jobs and workplaces that are accessible to people with disabilities, as well as to investigate potential international collaborations in the future.

Gifts made by Thailand's people with intellectual disabilities and their families for DPI-Korea President Mr. Lee Young Seok.

Group photo with DPI-Korea management team organizing the international conference.

Self-advocates pose for a group photo with their parents, teen volunteers, and APCD staff.

In the COVID-19 situation, they were taught how to make soap for their families, which cut down on their household cost savings.

They helped each other learn how to make salted eggs during activities that ensured food security.

Teen volunteers and self-advocate’s parent support the follow-up activity.

On 4 July 2022, Ms. Saranpat Anumutratchakij, the Director-General of the Department of Empowerment of Person with Disabilities along with Ms. Sonthaya Bunyaphusit, Deputy Director-General DEP and Mrs. Pornnipha Mareerungsie, Deputy Director-General of DEP visited the APCD 60+ Plus Projects implementation on “Enhancing the vocational skills of persons with disabilities, and facilitating their empowerment and social participation”. Mr. Piroon Laismit, the APCD Executive Director welcomed Ms. Saranpat Anumutratchakij, the Director-General of DEP Team. The financial supporter of these projects is the Division of Fund and Equity promotion for persons with disabilities, under the Department of Empowerment of Person with Disabilities. The Asia-Pacific Development center on Disabilities (APCD) is implementor of these activities by applying Disability-Inclusive Business practices. Three activities are;

1. Hospitality and Restaurant Services

2. Yamazaki bread maker

3. Professional Chocolate -Barista

It aims to create jobs, generate income, as well as give people with disabilities opportunities to develop their potential into practice in a concrete way that can be self-reliant and sustainable.

The Executive Board members who participated in the Executive Board meeting are;

1. Dr. Tej Bunnag, Secretary-General, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok/ President of APCD Foundation and Chairman of APCD Executive Board.

2. Dr. Damrong Reinprayoon, Chairperson of the Foundation for the Planned Parenthood of Thailand (FPT)/ Member, APCD Executive Board

3. Prof. Dr. Nantarika Chansue, Member, APCD Executive Board

4. Ms. Ramrung Worawat, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Social Development and Human Security Representative of Mrs. Patcharee Arayakul, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Bangkok / Member, APCD Executive Board.

5. Ms. Saranpat Anumatrajkit, Director General, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Bangkok/ Member, APCD Executive Board.

6. Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General, Thailand International Cooperation Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok/Member, APCD Executive Board.

7. Prof. Wiriya Namsiriphongphan, Member, APCD Foundation Committee/ President, Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities.

8. Mr. MORITA Takahiro, Chief Representative, JICA Thailand Office/ Member, APCD Executive Board.

9. Mr. Taisuke MIYAMOTO, Representative of Mr. SHOJI NAKANISHI, Regional Chairperson, Disabled Peoples’ International Asia-Pacific/Member, APCD Executive Board.

10. Mr. Piroon Laismit, Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability Foundation (APCD Foundation) /Member and Secretary, APCD Foundation Board and Executive Board