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E-Identification Card for Persons with Disabilities
National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Thailand

The Problem

Prior to the initiation of E-Identification Card for Person with Disability, eligible persons with disabilities or their representatives were required to submit all required documents to central or provincial registrars, or other designated entities. The regular process as outlined by the regulation took approximately 55 minutes and many supporting documents were required. In addition, there was no online system where registrars could check for data validity and the duplication of registration.

Previously, when a person with disability was registered he or she would receive a disability identification book, which entitled him or her to have certain benefits when using services at agencies concerned. However, due to its considerably large size and dull design, many consumers felt that it was inconvenient to carry, unstylish, as well as obsolete.

An individual with disability who needed a renewal or replacement for his/her disability identification book due to expiration, damage, loss, or changes of personal information, was required to contact the original registration office where their first disability identification book was issued, which was seen as a considerably burden and inconvenience.

The National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (NEP) had developed the computerized system to store disability data but the online registration services were not included. As a result, all of the disability data and supporting document collected by the provincial registrars were sent to NEP for processing and recording. A number of problems was experienced by this centralized process; in some cases the document was missing or incomplete, illegible hand writing was encountered while trying to feed the information into the system, while delays in sending the document resulted in incomplete, misleading, out of date, and unreliable database.

Solution and Key Benefits

 What is the initiative about? (the solution)
The key benefit of E-Identification Card is that the new registration process is much faster, as it takes only 20 minutes, with its pocket sized design, it is easy to carry and stylish to possess. It is a recognized personal identification allowing access to the integrated government electronic services that NEP will be employed in the future. Registered persons with disabilities are able to have full access to rights and welfare services, throughout the country, according to Section 20 of Persons with Disability Empowerment Act B.E. 2550.

From April 1 to September 20, 2010, a total of 160,302 persons with disabilities have already received the E-Identification Cards.

The E-Identification Card system also benefits the registrars due to its countrywide standardized registration protocol that improves efficiency of the provincial registration offices. This initiation significantly reduces costs regarding personnel, materials, printing, transportation, and document storage. The central disability database is complete, accurate, up to date, and reliable.

Thailand, through Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, aims itself to become a regional center for integrated disability data at individual levels. This will also allow development of disability database, where related entities can access and utilize disability data and information for relevant policy formulation and decision making process.

Actors and Stakeholders

 Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
By taking into account stakeholders concerned, particularly persons with disabilities and their organizations, the National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Royal Thai Government proposed the development of E-Identification Card for Person with Disability to replace the previous identification book.

(a) Strategies

 Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
 a.      What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
The key strategy is the Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act B.E. 2550 and subordinate registrations pursuant to its Section 20 that address rights of registered persons with disability in accessing and utilizing public facilities, including welfare services and other support from the government. Apart from the Act, additional rights and benefits, especially in utilizing public services, are considerably available for those who are holding E-Identification Card. With this respects, number of persons with disabilities to register for those benefit is significantly increasing.

In addition, there are signing of memorandum of understanding to mobilize the disability allowance project, disability identification card issuance, and other social welfare services. Last but not least, network with related entities also facilitates data and information exchange. Network building and expansion also facilitate exchange of knowledge and cooperation.

(b) Implementation

 b.      What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
New initiatives:

Apart from being an innovative service under the provisions of Section 19 of the Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act B.E. 2550, this E-Identification Card is attractive, stylish, pocket sized and convenient. This card also has a feature to read personal details of a person with disability and records of services that he or she has received according to Section 20 of Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act B.E. 2550, and is designed to facilitate fast and equal access to public services in the future.

New work process:

E-Identification Card for Person with Disability will support faster and more convenient registration process and improve quality of service delivery.

State of the art technology and services:

1. The approach of web-based application is applied to improve work process for widespread use of services and practical management.
2. Barcode attached to the identification card will enable authorized agencies, with approval from its owner or required by law, to have access to his or her personal details and will allow interchangeable of data among disability-related service providers, for instance, the National Health Security Office, Department of Employment, Department of Provincial Administration, and Local Administrative organizations. E-Identification Card is obviously disability-friendly as Braille feature is available for persons with visual impairment.

Additional features of the existing services:

E-Identification Card is value added as it is designed to support Thailand’s aim to become a regional center for integrated disability data at individual levels, and boost data and information exchange within and among ministries related in fast and safe on-line format.

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

 c.      What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
Because the E-Identification Card Project is one of the innovations of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, problems and challenges encountered include the lack of understanding and knowledge of officers involved regarding use of the program and equipment.

To solve the problem, NEP has conducted training courses for 3 different groups of users 1) executives of organizations, 2) users and 3) system administrators, with the total number of 200 participants.

(d) Use of Resources

 d.      What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
There are costs for 85 sets of computer hardware units, software and equipment involved that had been distributed to the registration entities countrywide for effective, fast, and one-stop service delivering model.

There are also costs related to conduct training courses for program users nationwide.

The total financial investment for this initiation is 23,900,000 Thai Baht.

Sustainability and Transferability

  Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
With ongoing support to central or provincial registrars, regarding both financial and technical needs the E-Identification Card Project is sustainable. Financial support is sustained by the government fiscal distribution.

Lessons Learned

 What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
E-Identification card for persons with disabilities is standardized and developed to support one-stop service delivering model of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, which is in line with the e-Government policy. The National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has committed to continuously development of innovative initiatives, so that persons with disabilities will receive better and internationally recognized standard, quality, and maximum satisfaction of the services received.

Contact Information

Institution Name:   National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Institution Type:   Government Agency  
Contact Person:   Ms . Vijita Rachatanantikul
Title:   Director  
Telephone/ Fax:   +66 2 3543388
Institution's / Project's Website:   +66 2 3545196
E-mail:   vijita_26@hotmail.com  
Address:   255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi
Postal Code:   10400
City:   Bangkok
State/Province:   Bangkok
Country:   Thailand

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