Project provides marketable tech skills for youth with disabilities 

Chayanat, who is enrolled in the Information Systems Development (ISD) curriculum at the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities, last year took part in a coding training programme from Microsoft. It gave him an opportunity to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a programmer. 
Chayanat, who suffered from perinatal asphyxia which later developed into spasticity, now has the skills and confidence to become a giver as he teaches other people how to code.
Meanwhile, Phinyaphat, also a student of Information Systems Development (ISD) at the same school, was able to master digital skills despite having been congenitally diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which normally makes it very difficult for her to study with other children. 
“Using games like Minecraft as a learning tool also makes coding more fun,” she said. “I felt much more motivated, as I enjoyed the whole process and didn’t feel bored or stressed at all. This approach helps a lot to speed up my learning process on digital skills.”
Microsoft (Thailand) last week announced it will expand its YouthSpark programme with a Bt3 million grant, reinforcing the company’s commitment to equip every young person to be “future ready”. Regardless of their background, the company aims for all students to acquire the digital skills and knowledge required to succeed in the tech-fuelled world and become the driving force of Thailand’s digital economy.
The workshop was just one of many learning opportunities planned for underprivileged and disabled youth under the partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and ChangeFusion, as well as the two-year collaboration with the Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities (Mahatai).
Microsoft said it remains firm in its commitment to provide access to computer science education to all Thai youth, including those with disabilities or living in remote areas. 
Dhanawat Suthumpun, managing director, Microsoft (Thailand), said that the tech company believes that every single young person in Thailand regardless of their abilities and background should have equal access to a computer-science education. 
Somjai Prasertjeerangkul, the deputy secretary-general, National Digital Economy and Society Commission said that Thailand 4.0 focuses on using innovations to develop the country, not only through adding value to products and services with technology, but also by reducing social inequality through income distribution and equal access to opportunities. 
He said the policy reflects the government’s commitment to helping people move forward together without leaving anyone behind, and requires contribution from both public and private sectors.
Microsoft YouthSpark is a clear example of an initiative that supports the policy and will help us achieve the goal faster, said Somjai.
In 2018, Microsoft aims to increase the number of teachers and youth-serving organisations that can bring in-demand digital skills to youth inside and outside of the classroom. The company said it would enhance the capacities of organisations that work with young people with disabilities and youth from underprivileged communities. It will also extend the availability of digital education to every young person to create long-term systematic change through two YouthSpark initiatives.
The first initiative is the “Enabling Equal Opportunities through Digital Skills for Thai Youth with Disabilities and Underprivileged Communities” and the second is “Advancing Digital Skills for Thai Youths to Drive Thailand’s Digital Economy”.
The Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities (RFPD) provided digital training to over 1,000 people with disabilities in Thailand in 2017. Through the #YouthSpark grants, RFPD managed to introduce computer science education in the curriculum in eight schools in six provinces.
In 2018, with Microsoft YouthSpark, RFPD will provide additional opportunities to Thais with disabilities to get access to computer science through a “train-the-trainer” initiative. 
In partnership with the Office of National Economic and Social Development (ONES) and ChangeFusion, Microsoft aims to train 1,200 young trainers by October this year.