APPROACHES TO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF A PERSONAL ASSISTANT SERVICE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Abstract

Abstract

            This research aimed to study 1) features of a personal assistant (PA) service system implemented by officials at a provincial disability center working in related fields according to Sections 4 and 20 of the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act, B.E. 2550 (2007) and its amendments (No. 2), B.E. 2556 (2013); 2) obstacles and formulate recommendations for appropriately developing the PA service system. Mixed methods research was done with quantitative data collected from 77 samples, all provincial disability center officials involved in the PA service system. Quantitative data was statistically analyzed by percentage, mean, standard deviation and variance in addition to qualitative data gathered from ten registered PAs by semi-structured interview.

Results were that most quantitative samples were females aged 25 to 35, unmarried, of the Buddhist faith, and with no relatives with disabilities. Most had earned bachelor's degrees and were currently employed as social development workers in the Fund for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities division earning average monthly incomes between 15,001 and 20,000 THB, with up to two years of seniority. Each province had about 14 PAs, with a high level of evaluation for the PA service process at six regional provincial disability service centers. The highest rated services provided by PAs included advice and preparation of forms related to PA work, while the lowest rated was submitting a list of participants in the Basic Level of Personal Assistance Program 2012 to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD). There was a high level of estimation of provision of five phases of PA service by workers in provincial disability services center. The highest rated was human resources to help persons with disabilities (PWD) to freely participate in society by providing training in related fields. The lowest rated was the inadequate number of workers in each provincial disability center for providing PA service to PWD. In addition, general information and awareness was similar to understanding rights and benefits of the representative sample group and therefore shared the same process.

In addition, most PAs were female, aged up to 79, earning average monthly incomes between 5,000 and 12,000 THB Most had been Village Health Volunteers (VHVs), Bangkok Public Health Volunteers, or Social Development and Human Security Volunteers (SDHSVs). PAs had from one to nine PWDs under their care, with an average of five. Most agreed that the Provincial Personal Assistant Service working group took a role in planning and setting guidelines to support PA work at the provincial level, following up practice of PAs who had passed theoretical training and screening PWD requiring PAs. The sample group recommended that additional training should be provided in terms of practicing, PWD rights, assistance for PWD, and knowledge exchange. Some PAs considered the Basic Level of Personal Assistance Program 2012 content to be sufficient, while others suggested that content should be added. Furthermore, some PAs suggested that public relations related to PA services for PWD should be developed as well as increasing the number of PAs to meet PWD needs in each area.

These findings suggest that 1) The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities should allocate budget for the Social Development and Human Security Provincial Office to hold annual training sessions to strengthen knowledge of registered Pas; 2) basic level of courses on the PA program should be developed to meet standards, facilitate implementation, and conform to current contexts and environments. The local administrative organization should participate in the PA service management system process. The Social Development and Human Security Provincial Office should also develop public relations to inform local residents and collaborate with local administrative organizations to build understanding about the PA service management system locally.