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15. Hearing impaired persons who travel by public buses have problems

communicating with bus conductors while those with mobility impairment

want the government to provide for buses that are accessible to wheelchair

users. Hearing impaired persons complained that the Land Transport

Department does not accept their application for a driving training course

on an individual basis but has requested them to make a group application

of about 10 persons. The fact that they have to submit their application

only at the Department headquarters in Bangkok is inconvenient for those

living in other provinces. If there is concern for a communication problem,

the Land Transport Department may request hearing impaired persons to

bring along a sign language interpreter as this service is now available

nationwide.

16. In 2007, a group of persons with mobility disability who experience

difficulty traveling by sky train due to unavailability of elevators at certain

stations filed a lawsuit against the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

(BMA) and the Bangkok Mass Transit System Company (BTS), requesting

them to provide elevators and other facilities for persons with disabilities

at every station in accordance with the Regulation on Standard Equipment

and Facilities for Persons with Disabilities of 2011. In January 2015, the

Supreme Administrative Court issued an order that the BMA and BTS

installed elevators at all sky train stations and provide in the train facilities

for persons with disabilities, i.e. wheelchair space, signage and installation

of handrails at boarding and alighting areas within one year. The Court

reasoned that although the sky train started its operation before the coming

into force of the 2011 Regulation, the BTS was bound to provide facilities for

persons with disabilities as the Regulation did not have temporary provisions