Welfare Accessibility of Persons with Disabilities during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic in Rayong Municipality, Mueang Rayong District, Rayong Province

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the access to the welfare of the disabled during the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and to study their satisfaction with welfare received during that situation in Rayong municipality. The research method used quantitative research. The samples used in the research were 280 persons with disabilities entitled to receive disability allowances in Rayong Municipality. The research instrument was a questionnaire. Statistics used in data analysis include percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

The results were as follows: 1) The majority of the sample group, 50%, reached welfare through a mobile phone. Most of them, 86.79%, had parents/caretakers/relatives register their welfare on the phone. Per the remedial programs for government assistance in phase 1, the majority of them, 77.50%, chose the one to reduce the burden of paying for water, electricity, and refund for electricity insurance. As for the remedial programs for government assistance in phase 2, 61.07% chose a subsidy program of 5,000 baht/month for 3 months. Regarding the government assistance programs in phase 3, 59.29% chose the Rao Chana (We Win) program. 2) In terms of satisfaction with the governmental programs of the 1^st phase, the sample group was not much satisfied with all programs offered. Concerning satisfaction with the programs in the 2^nd phase, they were satisfied with the project, Rao Mai Thing Kan (We Don’t Leave Others Behind), in which monthly allowances of 5,000 baht were given to them for 3 months. The Khon La Krueng (Half/Half) program was moderately satisfying, while the least satisfying was the Rao Tiaw Duay Kan (We Travel Together) program. In terms of satisfaction with the programs in the 3^rd phase, the Rao Chana (We Win) program was moderately satisfying. The Mo 33 Rao Rak Kan (Mo 33: We Love One Another), Khon La Krueng (Half/Half), and the program to alleviate the burden of paying for water and electricity bills were not much satisfying. The least satisfaction belonged to the Ying Chai Ying Dai (Spending More, Earning More) program.