Getting Around with Disabilities -- Chiang Mai

Don’t worry too much about the accessibility for the disabled in Thailand. Don’t let it be a deterrent to getting “more life for less money”.

Thai people are very helpful and due to the great weather a lot is happening on the streets. And although streets can be very busy Thai are gentlemen in traffic concerning the small motorbikes, wheelchairs, etc.

In Bkk, all stations on the Underground are accessible. Stations accessible on the Skytrain are; at the termini stations, where the MRT underground crosses, and at the junction of the 2 lines.

Look for a hotel close to an accessible BTS Station.

The accessible BTS stations in Bangkok are Siam, On Nut, Chit Lom, Chong Nonsi and Asoke. Here there are elevators. If you have to call for help stay close to the intercom because with all the noise you won’t hear them. Speak loud and clear.
At Asoke you can change to the subway.

Chit Lom station is close to Chatchuchak Weekend market with accessible toilets at the market place.
Chong Nonsi station in Silom and is close to Patpong night market.
Siam on Siam Square, is the place to shop with accessible toilets in the malls.

Hotels have varying accessibility. Even if they say they can accommodate wheelchairs, bathroom doors can be narrow (i.e. designed for small framed Thais, not westerners). The width of toilet and bathroom doors ( standard is 70 cm , cheap hotels & guest-houses are sometime 55 or 60 cm. Be prepared to have to transfer onto a regular chair, then collapse your wheelchair, pull it into the bathroom, open it and then transfer yourself back onto it. Usually toilets are not at wheelchair height, in fact the usual toilet is significantly lower than one would expect in Western countries. The upside is that most Thai bathrooms are open with self draining floors and no shower stalls.

One huge plus point are the Thai people themselves. Thai people are very helpful and very open minded towards disabled people.

Don’t worry about the accessibility in Thailand. If you approach it with a spirit of adventure, are prepared to adapt, and check out accommodation before booking in, you will have a great time.

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