Phuket expands disability support for 7,288 registered residents

Phuket officials are expanding support for the province’s 7,288 registered people with disabilities through a new service centre, funding reviews and employment initiatives.

The measures were reviewed at the fourth meeting of the Phuket Sub-Committee for the Promotion and Development of the Quality of Life for People with Disabilities at Phuket Provincial Hall on Tuesday, 21 July. The meeting was chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Suwit Phansangiam and attended by government agencies and officials involved in disability services.

The committee acknowledged approval of a licence allowing the Mai Khao Tambon Administrative Organisation disability service centre to operate as a general disability service centre, creating an additional access point for support in the area.

Officials also reviewed the Phuket Provincial Fund for the Promotion and Development of the Quality of Life for People with Disabilities, including outstanding loans and repayments. They examined vocational training loans issued during the 2026 fiscal year and employment outcomes for people with disabilities and caregivers who received financial support.

The meeting also covered plans to inspect businesses and government agencies for compliance with laws requiring the employment of people with disabilities, and preparations to select outstanding people with disabilities for provincial recognition in 2026.

Other decisions and discussions included monitoring Phuket’s disability quality-of-life development plan, cancelling a planned outsourced sign-language interpretation project, revising the 2026 budget allocation for disability programmes and considering new vocational training loan applications.

The province said it would strengthen coordination between government agencies so that all registered people with disabilities can access rights, welfare, funding, employment opportunities and quality-of-life support on an equitable basis.