Our team

“Not just friends, not just trainees and job coaches, here at Steps we are ‘family’ who are always ready to accept, understand and support each other.”
– Pear, Bangkok team.

Our goal is to give our trainees a great future

We believe our trainees deserve the best, so we’re really proud to have built an outstanding team of professionals here at Steps. It’s not just that we share a personal passion to achieve our mission. Everyone, from our vocational trainers to our team of therapists, is qualified to the highest standard, and our vocational training programme is UK-accredited. We have won a number of awards in recognition of our dedication and expertise.

You can read about the team behind the Steps Therapy Centre here. Otherwise, read on to find out more about the team behind our vocational training centres.

Award winners

Our team has won a number of national and international awards in recognition of our dedication and expertise. Find out more about them.

Max Simpson – CEO/Founder

Max’s qualifications: PG CERT Special Educational Needs Coordination, MA Special Educational Needs & Inclusion

Max says:

I have been working with the neurodiverse community for the past 15 years and the longer I work alongside this community, the more evidence I have that they are value adding employees to any business.

Originally from the UK, I have worked in a variety of settings including learning support departments and with young people in care. I then went on to focus on transition to employment before moving to Bangkok and becoming deputy head of a special needs school.

After working there for 4 years, I saw the gap between education and employment and the need for transition services for people with special needs. I believe partnership is the key to creating a more inclusive society.

What I love about Steps: It is more than a training centre or coffee shop, it is a safe community space for all which promotes individuality. The community we work with have so many skills to offer and I love seeing them get the opportunity to do that in our real work environments.

photo of the director of partnerships, Uang

Uang Hotrakitya – Director of Partnerships/Founder

Uang’s qualifications: BA and MA in International Relations, MA in Social Innovation and Sustainability, Diploma in Patisserie and Thai Cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School

Uang says:

From my work at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to opening several coffee shops and co-founding Steps, I believe workplaces and society benefit hugely from inclusion. Social enterprise is a powerful tool to help create systemic impact for the neurodiverse community.

Providing employment opportunities for young neurodiverse adults is a topic close to my heart and something that is lacking in Bangkok. I am excited to see the many positive outcomes for our trainees and help them step towards a more independent and fulfilling future.

What I love about Steps: I love seeing our coffee shop staff develop into job coaches and advocates for our mission.

Yim Minchainant

Yim’s qualifications: MSc Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice

Yim says:

I found my interest in developmental psychology when three of my middle school classmates were children with special needs.

With a supportive environment from an inclusive school, I saw the different ways my friends interacted to the world and their ability to go beyond expectations. I pursued my passion in young people’s psychological growth through my higher education and career.

What I love about Steps: I believe in the vision of being an inclusive community, starting within a small coffee shop. With hands-on experience in a real-life working environment and collaborative support from staff, I can actually see the positive changes happening among all Steps trainees, which is the most rewarding part of my job.

Pear Chainares

Pear’s qualifications: M.Sc. Mental Health

Pear says:

Working with the neurodivergent community has continuously been my passion since I was inspired by an amazing boy 6 years ago in a piano class.

Having received M.Sc. in Mental Health and certification in applied behavior analysis, I have provided behavioral therapy and special education to children and young people at a special learning center and in a school environment.

Now at Steps , I continue to work with my favourite people, facilitating and coaching them in all the functional skills they need for living, and for making their dream jobs come true.

What I love about Steps: Not just friends, not just trainees and job coaches, here at Steps we are ‘family’ who are always ready to accept, understand and support each other.

Kik – Junior Job Coach

Kik’s qualifications – Bachelor of Social Work Program

Kik says:

I am passionate about working with young people so I had decided to work as a volunteer teacher after I graduated from university. In addition, I worked at a small school in a Hill Tribe village. After working there for 4 months, I wanted to further my experience by working with young adults with special needs and decided to join at Steps.

What I love about Steps: Steps is more than my workplace, it is a place that I call “home” and the people here are a pleasure to work with and make it enjoyable to come to work.

Nat Eiamsataporn – Job Coach

Nat’s qualifications: MA in Special and Inclusive Education

Nat says:

My passion for special educational needs originated when I volunteered at a non-profit organization for children with special needs. From that time onwards, I have been working in special educational needs school and hospitals in Bangkok.

In addition, together with a team of special educational needs teachers, I have recently established a social enterprise call “Unpuzzle” promoting awareness and education equality for children with special needs. It is a career that I truly love.

What I love about working at Steps: It is a place where all trainees can shine and show society how awesome they are!

Pop Ngernnuruk

Pop’s qualifications: BSc Psychology

Pop says:

Throughout my time as a psychology student, I had never pictured myself working with neurodivergent people until now. Since I joined Steps, I feel a lot of joy and happiness in working with these young people. Apart from being able to support and encourage them as a job coach, I also gain more understanding from working with them and always wish everyone to become a proud, stronger adult in the future. I would like to tell anyone who ever has a family member who is neurodivergent to be proud of their uniqueness and believe in their potential to grow as a more independent and stronger person, because I have seen it myself!

What I love about working at Steps:I always feel delighted when seeing any progress in a trainee’s work and improvement in their psychological well-being because any small step means a big one in the future!

Working at Steps not only gives me knowledge and experience, but also a new perspective towards an inclusive community that I wish it would be highlighted more in school and workplace. My vision of a promising future for neurodivergent people becomes clearer, and I am very happy to join Steps community.

Chaituss Termnuwong

Chaituss’s qualifications: BSc Occupational Therapy

Chaituss says:

I am always impressed when trainees are proud of themselves, having success from thier great effort. Giving them an opportunity to show their maximum capability and help them improve basic skills which they need individually for well being in work, leisure, and activities of daily living is what I want to do as an OT.

What I love about working at Steps:

Dipika Ratnaphat Mangal

Dipika qualifications: BSc/MA in Occupational Therapy

Dipika says:

I get to help people do or get back to doing what is meaningful to them and their families. That inspires me everyday. These days, I’m mostly working with young children and I get to disguise learning and development with play, sensory experiences and motivating activities. When children are engaged and having fun, they push and challenge themselves without even thinking about it!

What I love about working at Steps:

What’s not to love?! We are inclusive, helping people live their best life and there’s coffee to go with it!

April Joy

April’s qualifications: MA Disability Studies (specializing in Applied Behaviour Analysis ABA)

April says:

Over the last 20 years, I have worked in a variety of settings supporting the neurodiversity community. Having spent the last 6 years working in the Bangkok International School community, supporting Primary school children with disabilities, I am thrilled that I will now focus my skills on supporting young people in their transition to employment.

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I really enjoy watching the trainees’ self-confidence build as they explore hands-on work experience in a real work environment. Being a part of this community means that I feel deeply inspired each day that I come to Steps. In this environment, I can do meaningful work that helps young adults realize their full potential and every day, without a doubt, the trainees put a smile on my face.

What I love about working at Steps:

The entire team at Steps are extremely dedicated to guiding and encouraging trainees to seek out employment opportunities. The trainees and their families always know they have our full support.

Find out more

Our therapists

Read more about our team of professional therapists – friendly, highly qualified and ready to work with children aged three years and up.

Steps Therapy Centre

About us

We’re on a mission to change lives in Bangkok and beyond. Perhaps your child is neurodivergent or you are a teacher who wants to be more inclusive. Find out how we can help you.