The Foundation To Encourage The Potential Of Disabled Persons is a legally registered, private Thai Foundation originally set up in 1993 in the city of Chiang Mai (northern Thailand) by Sunan and Don Willcox. The Foundation is dedicated to empowering disabled men and women and providing them with professional skills, as well as with health, employment, and dignity. The Foundation has no hidden religious or political agenda.

Our Foundation President is a life-long polio survivor Sunan Willcox. Sunan's mobility depends upon a long leg brace and two forearm crutches. Sunan graduated with honors from Piyap University, Chiang Mai and today operates her own successful accounting agency.

The Foundation's Chiang Mai Disabled Center and Chiang Mai Disabled Center Wheelchair Clinic are both operated and managed by disabled persons with input from overseas volunteers. The Center activities are supported by a staff of 6 disabled persons and from 6-8 volunteers.

As a result of a tragic automobile accident at age 30, Rumpun Yodya was left partially blind with windshield glass dust embedded in her eyes.  Today, Rumpun is our Disabled Center “house mother”, care giver, and licensed   Thai masseuse.

Foundation And Staff Profiles

Sunan Willcox, the foundation’s President contracted polio at the age of 5 months. She walks with the aid of a long leg brace and forearm crutches. Sunan is an honors graduate of Piyap University, Chiang Mai and has been operating her own accounting agency for more than 15 years.

Donald Willcox, foundation Coordinator has devoted the past 25 years of his life toward humanitarian service. He is the author of more than 30 books.

Mongkol Chomphucort, Manager, Freedom Wheelchair Workshop. Mongkol is a full time, paraplegic wheelchair user and a skilled designer of mobility aids.

Pragodgarn Sangdaotong operates her own laundry at the Chiang Mai Disabled Center. She survives both a hand and foot disability.

Sri Ton Tromyot is a Freedom Wheelchair Workshop Assistant. He survives an arm and hand disability.

Udom Narin is both our Follow-up Assistant, and our driver. Udom and Nitchanan Yodya have traveled most of the back roads of rural north Thailand visiting poor and needy disabled persons at home.

Chan Chi Wongwattanwirot is a Freedom Wheelchair Workshop Apprentice. He has a learning disability.

Govert Pennings is our website Coordinator and works from his home in the Netherlands.

Advisors We are most grateful for the ongoing support of our advisors including Mr. John Maas, Mr. Ian Bushell, Mr. George Scudder, and Mr. David Werner.