FAMILY-CENTERED CASE MANAGEMENT IN THE PERI-URBAN AREAS: FROM INVISIBLE HOUSEHOLDS TO EXPERTISE GAINED THROUGH EXPERIENCE AND DESIGN OF CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Abstract

This inquiry aimed to 1) Study the case management of families with disability in a Rangsit municipal area, Pathum Thani province, and 2) Develop a family-led case management model (FLCM) within the transition of disability support in Thailand. This research is qualitative research. Data were collected from 30 stakeholders, including government personnel who work with people with disabilities, civil society personnel, and families who take care of people with disabilities. Instruments in this inquiry are semi-structured Interviews, participant observation, and a self-reflection journal. The result of this inquiry showed that the transformation in the family, including 1) Changing of the silence culture through an ontological shift from being a passive victim and yielded to the fate to a rights defender; 2) The emergence of navigational agency and intellectual weapons to dismantle systemic barriers and professional dominance; and 3) The establishment of the reconstruction system with case by case management to bridge the gap between policy and the fragmented urban landscape. This finding contributes to expanding disability citizenship knowledge and deconstructing welfare culture through FLCM. The conclusion of this inquiry emphasizes that supporting the expertise from direct experience on caring for disabilities from families with disability and the personal independence related to relationships with family and community are fundamental mechanisms for transitioning from state dependency towards relational autonomy, and as a model for creating a social support system within the challenges of modern urban society.