May 2026 — Save the Children released “Dots to Dreams,” a study drawing on 81 voices in Bangkok: visually impaired youth aged 18–30, employers, civil society, educators, and government — all exploring career pathways for these youth.
The good news: Thailand has strong disability rights laws. More good news: visually impaired youth have the capacity to work. An NBT World report (May 29) confirms they “have the skills that match labor market needs.”
But what isn’t good yet: a gap remains between “laws exist” and “real life.”
The study found that while the law requires workplaces to hire people with disabilities, in practice the system is stuck at “meeting the quota” — hiring to check a compliance box, not building career pathways with real growth.
This isn’t a “people aren’t capable” problem. It’s a “the system wasn’t designed for everyone” problem — and it’s solvable.
When we design inclusive employment pathways from the start, we don’t just help people with visual impairments — we build a better system for everyone.
This study signals the conversation is shifting — from “can they work?” to “how do we build the bridge?”
And that bridge is being designed.
Sources: Save the Children Dots to Dreams