**Chapter 6: Survey Findings (Country-based Analysis: Laos)

In Naxaithong District in Vientiane Province, which was the target site of the survey in 
Laos, in total 198 persons (98 persons with disabilities and 100 persons without disabilities) were surveyed.

1) Demographics of Persons with Disabilities
*Types of Disability

Persons with physical disabilities are the biggest group (58%), followed by hearing (12.5%), intellectual (12.5%), speech (8%), visual (5%), psychosocial (1%) and others (1%). 

*Gender 
In Naxaithong District, there were 98 respondents with disabilities (55 men, 43 women).

*Education
The figure shows that 40% of persons with disabilities and 11% of persons without disabilities have no education. This indicates that persons with disabilities have lower opportunities than persons without disabilities in term of education. 
Employment

The results show that 67% of persons with disabilities are unemployed, while 33% are currently employed. As to the distribution of employment, persons with disabilities are self-employed (15%), working at private companies (9%), government (3%), others (5%).
   
   
   
2) Accessibility
In total 20 buildings and establishments, including community facilities,  schools, markets, business buildings and other public places were assessed.


Laos:Naxaithong District
Number of Audited Buildings/Establishment: 20
Ramp: 5, 25.0%
Accessible Toilet: 
2, 10.0%
Non-Skid Floor: 0
, 
0.0%
Signage: 0, 
0.0%
Accessible Parking Space: 
0, 
0.0%
Accessible Places: 

0


, 
0.0%

The survey revealed that very small numbers of public buildings/establishments were accessible for persons with disabilities. As a matter of fact, none out of 20 audited buildings/establishments met the criteria to be said accessible (0%). Among the 20 surveyed places, there were only 5 buildings and establishments with ramps (25.0%), 2 with accessible toilets (10.0%), none with non-skid floors (0%), none with signage (0%), and none with accessible parking space (0%).

3) Attitudes
The attitudinal survey was conducted with 3 groups of people, persons with disabilities, persons without disabilities, and parents of persons with disabilities. Among the 98 respondents with disabilities, 11 had their survey completed by parents as they were either too young or unable to do it by themselves. The survey was divided into three sections: knowledge/awareness of disability, attitudes/beliefs on disabilities and behaviours/treatment of persons with disabilities. The scores were then rated as Low (0-50%), Medium (60-80%) and High (90-100%). The results are shown in the graph below:

*Knowledge/Awareness
Most persons with disabilities had low (53%) or medium (30%) level of knowledge/awareness on disability. On the contrary, all of the parents of persons with disabilities had low level of knowledge/awareness.

*Attitudes/Beliefs
Only 4% of persons with disabilities had high level of attitudes/beliefs. This indicates that a negative attitude towards persons with disabilities were generally identifiable among persons with disabilities themselves in the target community.
   
*Behavior/Treatment

In terms of behaviour/treatment, 100% of the parents scored at medium and high level (91% and 9% respectively). None of their scores were rated as low level. Persons without disabilities also got high scores: with 50% in medium level and 46% in high level. Only 4% were in low level. For persons with disabilities, 63% of them scored at medium level, 6% scored at high level and 31% of them scored at low level. 