If approved by the Cabinet, the national plan will allow all disabled children to sit in the same class as other students within five years.

Currently, there are only 2,000 schools where disabled children can learn alongside able-bodied students. To accommodate all disabled children, the number of such schools will have to increase to at least 8,000.

Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham yesterday said his ministry had already finished the drafting of the national plan to raise the disabled person's quality of life.

"The draft will be put before the Cabinet soon," he said.

If approved, the plan is scheduled for implementation between 2007 and 2011.

Paiboon said the new national plan was designed to ensure an obstacle-free environment for people with disabilities.

"Disabled people should enjoy rights in all aspects, medical, educational, occupational and political," he said.

He said the disabled were part of society and should engage in social activities as much as other people. Paiboon was speaking at a press conference on how his ministry would organise activities to mark the International Day of Disabled Persons, on December 3.

Chusak Chantayanont, who heads an association of autistic persons' parents, commended the draft plan saying that it had identified tangible goals for relevant authorities to achieve over the next five years.

Council of Disabled People of Thailand chairman Wiriya Namsiripongpan said he hoped the disabled would enjoy political rights.