Title	Development centre for children with disabilities in Thailand
Description	Hope Home is a part residential, part day-care facility for severely disabled children helping to develop the physical and mental capacities of children who would otherwise have no hope.
Status	Completed
Dates	Start: 2011; End: 2012
Implementing partner	Hope Home
Location	Chiang Mai, Thailand
Sector	Health – disability

Situation

Nearly two million people in Thailand live with a disability. Government healthcare services do not provide the care needed for each child’s physical, mental and emotional development. This results in children not being given the opportunity to maximise their personality, gifts and character.

Families caring for a child with a severe disability have insufficient access to medical professionals, advice, support and respite.

Children born with disabilities are often stigmatised and discriminated against as their disability is viewed as offending the spirits. This results in children being confined to home environments, causing additional preventable psychological problems.

Response and Outcomes

• Improved essential care services
  

  Hope Home staff and child

Over 50 children received therapies appropriate to their needs – including art, music and nutrition – giving each child greater opportunities to achieve key milestones in their development.

• Residential foster care

Seven orphaned or abandoned children received residential foster care at Hope Home. Respite care was also provided when parents were at work or needed time away.

• Resource centre for families

Hope Home held respite care family days  and provided resources and information for families in the community who care for a child with a disability. Staff routinely visited 20 families to support their health, education, social and counselling needs.

• Improved local attitudes to disability

Through daily walks, playing in the local playground and attendance at religious services, local people have become more familiar with children with disabilities interacting with the community. This visible presence has helped change negative attitudes and encouraged families to include children with disabilities in community activities.