Khao Lak part 1

I am going to have to make a couple posts about our stay in Khao Lak because I took too many pictures to include all in one. (The internet speed limits my ability).

We were invited to stay at a very nice all inclusive resort on the beach in Khao Lak. Two years ago a UNC OT Student worked on a project for tsunami relief in the area and met the owner, Khun Sam, of the Baan Khao Lak resort. He has a friend with a disability and chose to build the resort using Universal Design which means that everyone young, old, and with a disability can easily use the space. It is actually a concept that was started at NC State and has since spread world wide. So for example having a ramp to the pool area means that a mother with a stroller or a person in a wheel chair can easily use the same entrance.

Anyways....in order to justify the trip we decided to offer a staff training and two of the staff at from DPI-AP joined. Joy and I thought it would mostly be staff from the Baan Khao Lak Resort and were a little shocked when 24 people from 4 different business attended. It turned out much more successful and fun than we thought it would. DPI-AP  covered topics about disability equality and facilitated discussion encouraging the participants to realize how much a people with disabilities are able to do. Joy and I covered the basics of accessible tourism, explain occupational therapy, and did some basic training on how to properly help some in a wheel chair or who has low vision. Below are some of the pictures.

  Khun Sawolak & Wansao giving their part of the presentation. Joy and I forcing participation for ours.

 Trying out the vision simulation goggles that our professor Sue had sent along with us.

 

 Practicing transfers and carrying people. In Thailand so far we have learned that Thai people are willing to help people in wheel chairs by carrying them over the often challenging terrain which is why we made sure to include this.

 Group picture at the end.