Asia Pacific Development Center on Disability – International Cooperation
The Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) was established in Bangkok, Thailand as a legacy of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, with joint collaboration of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Royal Thai Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Government of Japan.
International and domestic visitors often come to visit APCD to learn and exchange their views and lesson learned through over the year. APCD has significant collaborations on implementing programs/projects/activities with various organizations to promote social inclusion. Main focus areas are Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID), Disability-Inclusive Sports (DIS) and Disability-Inclusive Business (DIB).
Currently, working on implementing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Autism Mapping Project which aims to contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights and empowerment of persons with autism in the ASEAN region. This will be done through a mapping of the situation of persons with autism in the ASEAN region and developing country profiles.
The main expected outcomes of the project are:
- A regional document ‘Autism at a Glance’ by compiling all 10 country profiles on autism.
- Raising awareness activities on autism at the national and regional levels were conducted.
- Policy recommendations in protecting and promoting the rights and empowerment of persons with autism.