Digital access drive for people with disability

National efforts are advancing to ensure inclusive digital access as more than two million people with disabilities continue to face online inequality that limits access to essential services in health, finance, and education.

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), the Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand, and the Thai Web Accessibility Standards Working Group are jointly promoting the implementation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to make websites more inclusive for all users. The initiative was highlighted during a public seminar in Bangkok under the theme “Accessible Websites for All”, bringing together government, academic, and private sector stakeholders to accelerate nationwide adoption of accessible digital design.

According to the 2025 National Disability Report, 3.45 percent of Thailand’s population, or over 2.28 million people, live with disabilities. Many still encounter significant barriers to online platforms due to design limitations and the absence of accessibility standards, preventing them from accessing information and essential digital services.

ThaiHealth outlined four strategic actions to close this gap. The first focuses on integrating WCAG into organisational policy frameworks. The second involves training web development teams from both government and private sectors through the Thailand Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2025 (TWCAG 2025) manual. The third establishes collaboration with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) to conduct accessibility audits for public websites. The fourth aims to enhance digital and media literacy among persons with disabilities while providing certification programmes for evaluating WCAG compliance.

The initiative underscores that digital accessibility is not merely a technical upgrade but a matter of equity and rights protection. The application of WCAG and TWCAG 2025 is viewed as a key mechanism for building an inclusive digital ecosystem in Thailand, aligned with the country’s vision of sustainable and equitable technological development.

These efforts reflect Thailand’s broader national agenda to promote digital inclusion, ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the transition toward a knowledge-based and connected society.