Hightlights:

• Thammasat University’s DSS Center provides holistic academic counseling, assistive technology, dormitories, and peer buddy support for students with disabilities.
• Over 85% of graduates with disabilities secure employment annually through structured career development and individual career planning.
• Comprehensive financial aid is provided through 25 annual university scholarships valued at 55,000 Baht each alongside external charity funding.
• Universal Design initiatives across campus buildings, library services, and community housing enhance physical and informational accessibility.
• Innovative engineering solutions like award-winning electric wheelchairs promote independent mobility for paraplegic students and seniors.
• Extensive mentoring outreach programs extend educational guidance and peer encouragement to high school students with disabilities nationwide.

Institutional Overview & Commitment

Thammasat University is committed to creating an accessible, equitable, and inclusive environment for all students, staff, and faculty from underrepresented groups, fulfilling SDG 10 through its Disability Support Services (DSS) Center, the university provides comprehensive support for individuals with mobility disabilities, hearing impairments, visual impairments, and other special needs. Recognized for its exemplary ‘Students with Disabilities Project,’ Thammasat University significantly enhances educational opportunities, leading to over 85% of graduates with disabilities securing employment each year and equipping them with essential professional skills for the modern labor market.

Key Services Offered by the DSS Center

Academic Counseling and Guidance:

The DSS Center provides academic counseling not only to Thammast students but also to high school students with disabilities. This support includes:

• Guidance Sessions: Promoting the admission program and assisting high school students with disabilities during the examination process to ensure equal opportunities.
• Preparation for University: Hosting orientation meetings for newly admitted students with disabilities, even offering online sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Training Programs: Providing relevant training, such as Microsoft Office workshops for students with vision impairments.

Assistive Devices and Instructional/Learning Materials:

• Customized Instructional Materials: The DSS Center provides course materials in formats that accommodate various disabilities, including braille for students with visual impairments and audiobooks for those with hearing impairments.
• Assistive Devices: Every student with disabilities at Thammasat University has the right to necessary assistive devices. Each student receives a laptop and a voice recorder, along with additional tools based on their specific needs

Scholarships, Grants, and Internships:

• Scholarship Opportunities: The DSS Center offers around 25 scholarships each year, each valued at 55,000 baht (approximately US$1,500) for students with disabilities in need of financial assistance.
• External Funding: The center actively seeks additional funding and scholarships from private and government agencies.

Tutoring, Examination, Mentoring, and Service Center Common Room:

• Tutoring: There are English tutoring sessions by the teacher at the language center available for students with disabilities, and the center is planning on hosting more tutoring sessions in the future
• Examination Accommodations: The center is responsible for preparing examination materials that are suitable for each student’s specific needs.
• A Variety of Facilities Exclusively for Students with Disabilities: The center features an office area and a common room. The office includes four recording rooms and 28 computers with screen reader software and image magnification devices. Open Monday through Saturday, the common room is a space for academic activities and relaxation.

Dormitory and Buddies:

• Housing Support: The DSS Center ensures that every student with a disability who wishes to stay on campus is provided with a dormitory accommodation without exception.
• Buddy System: Students can request a buddy or volunteer staff member for additional support, along with the provision of assistive devices tailored to their needs.

Physical Environment Enhancements:

• Universal Design Initiatives: The DSS Center promotes universal design in university buildings to improve accessibility. Over 20 projects have been implemented to enhance the physical environment, including ramps and accessible pathways.
• Museum Accessibility Projects: Key projects focus on making museums accessible for blind visitors. This includes the installation of elevators and braille blocks, as well as using sound and touch to present exhibition objects. Audio descriptions are provided via guides or audio devices, and replicas of authentic objects are made available for a richer learning experience.

Innovative Engineering Solutions

In addition to the DSS efforts, the Faculty of Engineering has contributed innovative solutions:
• Plug & Go Wheelchair: An award-winning design aimed at enhancing mobility for people with disabilities and seniors.
• Electric Wheelchair Design: An electric wheelchair for paraplegics, receiving a gold award for innovative design.

The DSS Center at Thammasat University provides comprehensive support for students with mobility disabilities, hearing impairments, visual impairments, and more, ensuring that every student has the resources they need to succeed. Thammasat University is recognized for its “Students with Disabilities Project,” which enhances educational opportunities. with these efforts. Over 85% of graduates with disabilities find employment each year, equipping them with the necessary skills for the labor market.

Key Projects and Activities

To further expand mentoring, counseling, and peer support for underrepresented groups, Thammasat University implemented the following key activities and projects in 2025, including ongoing initiatives.

Feb 2025: Higher Education Mobile Guidance Counseling Project for High School Students with Disabilities – DSS Center staff and disabled university student mentors visited 7 special education schools across 6 provinces, delivering academic guidance, exam accommodation counseling, and peer mentoring.

Feb 2025: Public Forum on Marriage Equality – Organized by ThaiHealth and Thammasat University to foster dialogue and legal inclusion for LGBTIQN+ community members.

Mar 2025: Museum Accessibility Consultation (Incluseum101) – Participatory feedback event at Thammasat Museum of Anthropology gathering recommendations from visually impaired visitors.

Jul 2025: Individual Career Plan (ICP) Workshop for Students with Disabilities – DSS Center workshop providing 1-on-1 career counseling, goal-setting mentoring, and skill alignment for disabled students.

Jul 2025: Workshop on Universal Design for Wellbeing Cities – Thammasat UDC capacity-building training for over 110 local government officials on accessible urban planning.

Sep 2025: Scholarship Allocation Announcement for AY 2025 – DSS Center awarded 12 full scholarships (55,000 Baht each, total 660,000 Baht) to undergraduate students with disabilities facing financial hardship.

Nov 2025: AI Skills Training Workshop for Students with Disabilities – DSS Center training in practical AI applications and prompt engineering for visually and physically impaired students.

Nov 2025: Northern Regional Seminar on Rights and Accessible Services – Policy and mobility rights seminar organized by Thammasat UDC and the Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities.

Dec 2025: Athletic Mentoring at Asian Youth Para Games – Institutional mentoring and peer support for disabled student-athlete Krit-yayot Kaewkamma competing in wheelchair basketball in Dubai.

Dec 2025: TU Library Specialized Services & Book Delivery – Academic search, braille/audio literature, and direct library book delivery to the DSS Center for disabled students.