Accessible market: a prototype for people with disabilities in Thailand

Abstract

Purpose. Most Thai people like to purchase food at local markets; however, the accessibility to local markets by people with disabilities may be limited. The objective of this work was to develop a prototype of an accessible market for people with disabilities in Thailand, by performing a case study on a selected market in which people with disabilities often go.

Methods. Representative players participated in this study: a market owner, food stall owners, assistive technology specialists, general customers, and customers with disabilities. Data were collected by observing environmental features in the market, and by interviewing the participants.

Results. The results indicated that people with disabilities could not access the market because of lack of suitable parking zone, lack of ramps, walkways with obstacles, unsuitable public restrooms, the lack of zoned area for the food court and of standards for food stalls.

Conclusion. After analysis of the data, a prototype was designed for parking spaces, ramps, walkways, public restroom, food court, and food stalls to make the market accessible.

Keywords:

• Market
• food stall
• people with disabilities
• accessibility

Acknowledgements

This research is a collaborative project between the Faculty of Architecture, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University. It was funded by the Faculty of Architecture, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. We wish to thank the owner and staff of the selected market, food stall owners in the market, members of the Center for Independent Living in Puthamonthon, and staff from Ratchasuda College for their participation in this study. This article is dedicated to Keshanon Phankong, our research team member, who passed away in 2009.