Phuket is turning a meaningful corner in its approach to inclusion. The Phuket City Municipality has announced a fresh package of measures aimed at improving life for residents with autism and intellectual disabilities — and it’s not limited to paperwork. With an ethos built around the new “Leaving No One Behind” policy, local leaders are moving from intent to action, seeking practical ways to level the playing field so every resident can participate, learn and thrive.
From database to action
At the heart of the plan is a simple but powerful step: a comprehensive database identifying people across the municipality with autism or intellectual disabilities. Mayor Suphot La-ongphet has been clear about the philosophy driving the move. “Everyone is a valuable human resource,” he said, underscoring the aim of equal opportunity and support — not token gestures but sustained, measurable improvement.
With the database complete, Mayor Suphot and the Medical Division’s director, Ruengrit Ritthaphai, have begun mapping out the next steps. Their conversations exposed a major bottleneck: too many parents struggle to access appropriate care because public and private hospitals simply don’t have enough specialists. That gap has left families scrambling for long-awaited therapy sessions, social-skills programs and developmental supports.
Hiring therapists directly: a 2026 push
The municipality’s Medical Division is preparing a proposal in the 2026 budget to build a regulatory framework allowing the direct recruitment of psychologists and occupational therapists. That’s a notable shift — instead of relying solely on external providers, the city intends to bring expertise in-house. The plan would allow Phuket to offer more consistent, locally available services that address intellectual development, social skills training and confidence-building activities that support independent living.
Why does that matter? Because therapies offered routinely and close to home make it easier for children and adults to keep up with progress, for families to participate, and for gains to carry into school, work and community life. Mayor Suphot says these measures are designed to help residents “learn, participate and thrive in society sustainably,” an ambition that, if implemented well, could be life-changing for many families in Phuket.
Big-picture benefits for the community
This approach has ripple effects. Hiring local professionals creates jobs and builds capacity within Phuket, reducing long-term dependence on external services. Regular programs also offer a chance to normalize support for neurodiverse and intellectually disabled residents — shifting public perceptions from pity to empowerment. That’s the kind of cultural change that supports inclusion beyond clinics and classrooms.
Travel is getting easier nationwide
Phuket’s move toward accessibility is part of a broader national trend. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has rolled out new rules to improve air travel for elderly, injured and disabled passengers — a development that dovetails with municipal efforts to make public life more accessible.
Regulation No. 90, announced by CAAT Director Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, aims to align airports and airlines with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) accessibility standards. Effective May 30, the regulation covers passengers with visual, hearing, mobility or communication challenges, as well as those with temporary injuries. “Our goal is to ensure everyone has equal access to air travel,” Manat said — a timely commitment for a country that depends heavily on tourism and inter-island mobility.
Small changes, big impact
Both the local and national moves underline a simple truth: accessibility isn’t a luxury, it’s essential. Whether it’s recruiting therapists to give kids the early interventions they need, or ensuring an elderly traveler can navigate an airport without stress, these policies reduce friction in everyday life. They also send a message: people with disabilities are full participants in society, not afterthoughts.
For Phuket families who have juggled appointments, long travel times and uncertain treatment pathways, these initiatives offer hope that support will be more predictable and more local. For the Municipality, success will look like measurable improvements in participation, independence and wellbeing — and the steady normalization of accessibility across public services.
What to watch next
Keep an eye on the 2026 budget process: the Medical Division’s proposal to directly hire psychologists and occupational therapists will be a key milestone. If approved and executed well, it could become a model for other municipalities across Thailand. Meanwhile, the CAAT’s Regulation No. 90 will be tested as airports and airlines adjust operations — and travellers with special needs will be watching closely to see whether promised standards translate to real, on-the-ground improvements.
Phuket’s efforts are earnest and targeted. Turning those plans into sustained outcomes will take funding, training, and community buy-in — and a willingness to measure progress. But for residents and families waiting for support, the momentum is unmistakable: this island is starting to make room for everyone.
We believe this package marks a real shift from paperwork to practical care, starting with a database and moving to local hiring. The 2026 proposal aims to recruit psychologists and occupational therapists directly so services are consistent and local. We welcome feedback as we refine the budget proposal.
As a dad who’s been waiting for therapy slots for years, this sounds hopeful but I need proof. Will hiring in 2026 actually reduce waiting lists next year? Families need timelines and interim support, not just promises.
The plan is promising but timelines matter; training local therapists takes time and funding. Municipal hires could stabilize access if paired with clear KPIs and supervision. I’d push for pilot programs this year to prove impact.
Pilot programs often disappear after politicians move on. I’ve seen too many pilots become PR stunts. Make the funding ring-fenced and transparent before I buy optimism.
Thanks for the push, ParentMark, you raise a valid point about interim measures. The proposal includes short-term contracts with external therapists to bridge gaps while the recruitment pipeline is built. We will publish timelines if the budget is approved.
Good idea, but who’s paying for this? Phuket is already stretched with tourism and infrastructure costs. Will locals be taxed or will tourists foot the bill indirectly?
Public investment in human capital can yield long-term economic returns, especially through increased workforce participation. Funding can be structured through reallocation or grants rather than broad taxation. The key is a cost-benefit analysis showing reduced long-term social costs.
Exactly — spend now to save later. Untreated developmental needs often increase downstream healthcare and social service costs. Transparent budgeting and measurable outcomes can convince skeptical residents.
Economic theory is nice, but people see taxes and think immediate pain. Show clear metrics like reduced hospitalizations or increased employment among supported residents and skepticism will fall.
This could change life for my son if therapists are actually available nearby. Travel has been the hardest part for our family. I just hope the staff are well-trained and not temporary hires who leave after a year.
From a school perspective, steady, local therapists would help integrate therapy with classroom goals. Collaboration between the municipality and schools must be part of the plan. Short-term contractors make continuity impossible for kids.
Maya, I felt the same until my son started therapy at a big hospital far away. The novelty wore off when appointments were canceled. Reliable local services would be life-changing if sustained.
Thanks, ParentMark. Even small improvements like consistent schedules and local support groups would help families cope between sessions.
I’m skeptical of municipal hiring. Bureaucracies hire slowly and pay poorly, attracting underqualified staff. Why not subsidize private clinics with strict standards instead?
Privatization risks leaving low-income families behind while wealthier ones buy services. Public provision can ensure equity, but it requires oversight and community input. The rights-based approach argues for public responsibility.
Subsidies might work if paired with quality audits. I just don’t trust the city to run clinical services efficiently without outside expertise.
As a clinician, hiring local psychologists and OTs is excellent if standards are enforced. We must insist on accreditation, supervision, and ongoing training. Otherwise, access without quality is harm dressed as help.
Agreed. Design the program with measurable outcomes and external audits to guarantee accountability. Consider partnerships with universities for training pipelines and research evaluation.
Training pipelines are slow. How about faster measures like teletherapy and incentives to bring specialists now? Waiting years is not a solution for kids who need early intervention.
Inclusion in schools depends on therapists who can coordinate with teachers. Teachers need training too; it’s not enough to place therapists in clinics. The plan should include professional development for educators.
Why can’t teachers learn to help kids more? My class had a kid with autism and my teacher didn’t know what to do. Training would help everyone be nicer and smarter.
Joe, you nailed it. Simple classroom strategies and awareness go a long way. If municipalities fund training for teachers, inclusion improves fast and kids feel safer.
Teachers that understand autism changed our school life. Joint training sessions between teachers and therapists would make therapy goals match classroom practice.
This is good because kids like me want friends and not to be left out. I hope they make fun groups where everyone can learn social stuff. Schools should get some help too.
Short, practical sessions can teach classmates empathy and help kids build social skills. Peer programs alongside therapy are cost-effective and socially transformative.
Peer-mediated interventions are evidence-based and inexpensive. Combining clinical therapy with school-based peer programs multiplies benefits and speeds generalization of skills.
This policy could serve as a model for other municipalities if properly evaluated. I would insist on a randomized rollout or phased evaluation to assess cost-effectiveness and social impact. Evidence will determine scalability.
Academic rigor is fine, but bureaucracy slows things down. Phased rollouts must still prioritize those most in need, not just serve as a research site.
Evaluation matters, but rights and dignity should guide decisions, not only outcome metrics. Inclusive policies must respect users’ voices in design and assessment.
I’m for inclusion but worried about token gestures. Will the municipality actually integrate people into workplaces, or just offer token therapy sessions? Employment pathways need to be part of the plan.
Yes, employment is key. Therapies alone are not enough if employers and the tourism sector don’t adapt. Expect resistance unless incentives are provided.
One more point: measuring success can’t be only number of hires. Look at school attendance, family stress levels, and employment outcomes. Those measures tell the real story.
Agreed. Add user satisfaction surveys and stories from families. Numbers are necessary, but human stories drive policy forward and keep momentum.
From a human-rights viewpoint, this is overdue and necessary. Accessibility and support are not charity; they’re obligations. The CAAT rules are complementary, but municipalities must ensure dignity on the ground.
Hard to disagree. International standards matter, but local implementation is where rights become lived realities. Legal protections plus services create durable inclusion.
The CAAT update is great for travellers with disabilities, but airports and airlines often lag in actual practice. Enforcement and staff training at airports are what will make Regulation No. 90 meaningful.
Airports say they comply but lines and ramps tell another story. Regulation needs audits and penalties for non-compliance to matter.
Spot checks and passenger feedback systems could help. Tourists and locals will report poor service quickly if reporting is easy and responses are swift.
Airlines change policies for PR but frontline staff training is expensive. I want to see dedicated budgets for training, not just glossy statements.