On 23 February 2022, Mr. Takayuki KOBORI, the Chief Editor of the Daily NNA Thailand Edition, and Ms. Valaiporn CHALERMLAPVORABOON, the Editor's assistant/ writer of the Daily NNA Thailand Edition called on Mr. Piroon Laismit, the APCD Executive Director for an interview at APCD Office about APCD profile, activities and project, APCD 60+ Plus Bakery& Chocolate café by Yamazaki and MarkRin project, the impact of a pandemic to Disability-Inclusive Business (DIB) and other challenges.

Participants provided updates on the new wave of COVID-19 outbreaks and accompanying monthly activity.

Members of the working group examined possible choices for in-person training in upcoming April.

The new normal was reflected in the work plans exchanged by participants.

Attendees included representatives from the World Endeavors Thailand office, Mr. Tianzhou Zhang (Intern 2022), and APCD staff.

Mr. Zhang discussed the partnership between World Endeavors Thailand and APCD for the virtual internship program that led to his recruitment at APCD. 

Mr. Piroon Laismit, Executive Director of APCD, made a farewell address and mentioned that APCD determines to promote internship program for the young people.

Ms. Siriporn Praserdchat, Logistics Officer, facilitated the virtual certificate presentation to Mr. Zhang.

On 11 February 2022, Dr. Tej Bunnag, the Secretary-General at the Thai Red Cross Society and President of Asia-Pacific Center on Disability (APCD) Foundation, together with H.E., Mr. Ittipol Khunpluem, Minister of Culture, Mr. Piroon Laismit, the APCD Executive Director and other groups of senior officials and delegates participated in the Thailand Friendly Design Expo no. 5 of the year 2022. It is promoting the good practices and innovative approaches as indicated in “Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. It is to continue building the capabilities of persons with disabilities and multi-sectoral collaboration, with special attention to encouraging private sector engagement in Disability-Inclusive Business that promotes disability-friendly products, services, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship development.

The Thailand Friendly Design Expo 2022 was organized by Friendly Design Foundation. The president of the Friendly Design foundation is Mr. Krisana Lalai (wheelchair user) who is an APCD Executive Board member. It has over two hundred members of people with physical disabilities, focused on wheelchair users.

The meeting agenda was announced by Mrs. Nucharee Kraisuwan, president of AMITH.

Mr. Kevin Cook the American expert on Employment of Persons with Disabilities was invited to join the meeting as an advisor and resource person.

Mr. Somchai Rungsilp, Manager of the Community Development Department, shared insight into AMITH's direction as a multinational collaboration on psychosocial disability development at the meeting. 

Ms. Supaanong Panyasirimongkol, Officer, Networking & Collaboration provided inputs at the meeting. 

Mr. Cason Tzse Chun Ong, AAN Chairperson, acknowledged the draft summary of AAN activities of the year 2021 and intended to submit it to the ASEAN Secretariat.

Ms. Erlinda (Dang) Uy Koe, AAN Philippines, Autism Society Philippines (ASP) highlighted outputs of the 26th Philippine National Autism Awareness Week organized by ASP from 24 to 30 January 2022.

Dr. Adriana Ginanjar, AAN Honorary Chairman gave feedback during the meeting.

Mr. Tianzhuo Zhang (left hand on top), an APCD intern from China, served as a speaker of the online session and he has a group shot with APCD staff and a colleague from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEP). 

The presentation of disability benefits and allowances, as well as data on disability employment.

Discussion of the Chinese and Thai perspectives on social welfare enterprises

The webinar was attended by Mr. Watcharapol Chuengcharoen, Chief of Networking and Collaboration.

Participants include representatives from Thailand's government, the Organization of Persons with Disabilities, the private sector, and a variety of stakeholders, as well as delegates from other ASEAN countries.

Mr. Siripong Sriarkha, Representative from Thailand to the ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD), delivered the process of mid-term review regarding the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025.

Ms. Saowalak Thongkuay, of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), spoke on "Best Practices for Implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" in order to advance the rights of persons with disabilities concretely.

Dr. Suporntum Mongkolsawadi, Co-founder of Transportation for All (T4A), opened the occurrence with a welcome address.

To symbolize an inclusive smart city for everybody, a music video on diversity toward an inclusive creation song was shown.

A presentation on the Bangkapi Smart Livable District is a demonstration of an inclusive smart city model.

On January 26, 2022, Mr. Watcharapol Chuengcharoen, Chief of Networking and Collaboration, and Ms. Supaanong Panyasirimongkol, Networking and Collaboration Officer attended an ASP resource session on job employment opportunities for persons with autism. 

The panel discussion drew around 175 participants, mostly from the Philippines and ASEAN Autism Network (AAN) member countries.

‘The ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was presented by Ms. Ajeng Purnama Pratiwi, Poverty Eradication and Gender Division, ASEAN Secretariat, on January 28, 2022.

The Philippine Autism Policy Framework is a series of suggestions from community discussions in the framework of the ASEAN Autism Mapping Project.

On January 28, 2022, Ms. Supaanong Panyasirimongkol, Networking and Collaboration Officer, presented via video recording at the Open Forum, representing the region's autism self-advocates and reflecting the "ASEAN Enabling Masterplan" and the Philippine Autism Policy Framework.

On 4 February 2022, Mr. Piroon Laismit gave welcome remarks to visitors (teachers and students) from the Thai Japanese Association School (TJAS) and wished them a happy pleasant class. The TJAS representatives read the message to express their heartfelt appreciation to APCD.

Visitors gained Disability-Inclusive Business experiences trained by the APCD team, especially 60+Plus Bakery by Yamazaki project in collaboration with the Thai Yamazaki team supported them in molding and baking for the Pastry & Bakery class at the APCD training building, Bangkok.