Fr. Ray Vocational School for the Disabled
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Family History and General Information
Sathit comes from Phetchaburi, a province far from Bangkok about 123 kms. southwards. He lives with his mother who has a meagre income from working as a traditional Thai masseuse. His father died three years ago from diabetes. Sathit is the fifth of seven children. He has two older sisters and two older brothers, one of whom is mentally handicapped. He also has one younger sister who works in Pattaya selling cosmetics. A younger brother is still in school and is supported by one of his older sisters. All of Sathit’s older siblings, apart from his disabled brother, are married and live away in their own homes. The family are very poor and Sathit and his disabled brother receive a small amount of money each month from the Government. Two of Sathit’s sisters also provide a small amount of support to their mother. There are three persons in the family home. Before being wheelchair dependent, Sathit finished nine years of his schooling but he did not continue his studies immediately as his family could not afford it. In 2001 he was recruited and was in military camp in another province, adjacent to his home province, for two years. During this time he had an opportunity to study from the Non-Formal Education programme where he finished the equivalent to twelve years in May 2003. Unfortunately, Sathit had a road accident in December 2003. It happened while he was out with 4 friends travelling in a pick-up truck. It was night-time and the truck hit a kerb and rolled over. Sathit was unconscious at the scene and his friends, who luckily were not badly hurt, took him to hospital. While he was there he regained consciousness and had an operation to insert a pin in his neck. This unfortunately affected his spine. He stayed in the hospital for about one month and is now paralysed from the waist down and wheelchair dependent. After being discharged from hospital he returned home and helped care for his brother, preparing meals for him. A nurse visited their home and taught Sathit’s mother the art of traditional Thai massage. Sathit learnt about the Fr. Ray Vocational School for the Disabled from his sister who was doing some research into possible places that Sathit could attend for vocational training. At first he was not interested because he had lost his confidence and did not want to go out. However, he met some handicapped students and decided it was time for him to get on with his life. He is very grateful to have been given this great opportunity after having passed on his first attempt at the entrance examination for the computer course. He is now in the Information System Development class.
Sathit comes from Phetchaburi, a province far from Bangkok about 123 kms. southwards. He lives with his mother who has a meagre income from working as a traditional Thai masseuse. His father died three years ago from diabetes. Sathit is the fifth of seven children. He has two older sisters and two older brothers, one of whom is mentally handicapped. He also has one younger sister who works in Pattaya selling cosmetics. A younger brother is still in school and is supported by one of his older sisters. All of Sathit’s older siblings, apart from his disabled brother, are married and live away in their own homes. The family are very poor and Sathit and his disabled brother receive a small amount of money each month from the Government. Two of Sathit’s sisters also provide a small amount of support to their mother. There are three persons in the family home. Before being wheelchair dependent, Sathit finished nine years of his schooling but he did not continue his studies immediately as his family could not afford it. In 2001 he was recruited and was in military camp in another province, adjacent to his home province, for two years. During this time he had an opportunity to study from the Non-Formal Education programme where he finished the equivalent to twelve years in May 2003. Unfortunately, Sathit had a road accident in December 2003. It happened while he was out with 4 friends travelling in a pick-up truck. It was night-time and the truck hit a kerb and rolled over. Sathit was unconscious at the scene and his friends, who luckily were not badly hurt, took him to hospital. While he was there he regained consciousness and had an operation to insert a pin in his neck. This unfortunately affected his spine. He stayed in the hospital for about one month and is now paralysed from the waist down and wheelchair dependent. After being discharged from hospital he returned home and helped care for his brother, preparing meals for him. A nurse visited their home and taught Sathit’s mother the art of traditional Thai massage. Sathit learnt about the Fr. Ray Vocational School for the Disabled from his sister who was doing some research into possible places that Sathit could attend for vocational training. At first he was not interested because he had lost his confidence and did not want to go out. However, he met some handicapped students and decided it was time for him to get on with his life. He is very grateful to have been given this great opportunity after having passed on his first attempt at the entrance examination for the computer course. He is now in the Information System Development class.
November, 2008
After staying at our school for almost one month, Sathit says he is happy and having no problems with the class. He is gradually adapting to having to sit all day because at home he was able to lie down some of the time. He has to be very careful not to get pressure sores. His brother-in-law is purchasing a special cushion, by monthly payments, for his wheelchair so he will be more comfortable and less likely to get pressure sores. Sathit says the teachers are very kind and friendly. At home he didn’t have any friends but here at the school he has made many new friends. There are many games in our programme of sports adapted for disabled in which all students are encouraged to participate. Sathit intends to join the fencing group. Sathit says thank you to the Sponsors because if there are no sponsors he would never have a chance of vocational training. (CS)
May, 2009
A few days after having been through an exhaustive school’s year-end final examination, everyone expressed a sign of relief and at the same time looked forward to a long summer holiday when they would be welcomed back to their homes, their family, and of course their friends and neighbors, starting from the 28th of March and lasting until the early part of this month, May, the start of the new academic year. Sathit, who is always considered to be one of the better students in his class and who is a diligent student, passed the year-end final examination with an overall average grade at 79.17%. Undoubtedly, Sathit continues to work hard in his academic study as he is now advancing to the second semester of his first academic year in the Information System Development Courses. Sathit is not only outstanding in his study; he also gets along well with others in general. He has always shown himself to be a good student who is in good behavior as well as in good conduct. He expresses his willingness in participating and helping in the worthwhile school’s activities which usually are of benefits to the society in general. (SS)
August, 2009
At his request and under the attending physician’s recommendation, Sathit submitted a formal request to put his study on hold because of his bed sore problem. He left the school on the 17th of July for necessary care and medication. He will return to resume his academic study when his health allows him to do so. (SS)
May, 2010
Sathit has returned to our School and has been here since the school term started on the 3rd of May. He made an official request to attend the entrance exam on his first attempt, for the People with Disability Empowerment course instead of the Information System Development course. He appears to mix well with his new friends and he enjoys playing Petanque with them after school. (WS)
