Vision

Goals

• Increasing the opportunities for all children with disabilities to access education in a mainstream school alongside their peers
• Supporting the development of disability prevention and rehabilitation programs for children with disabilities;
• Increasing family and community awareness of the potential of children with disabilities
• Improving collaboration and communication between national and international organisations and the government on issues related to children with disabilities
• Supporting the development of referral systems with other stakeholders
• Advocating for increased physical accessibility to mainstream schools, health facilities and other public places for children with disabilities;

Activities and Achievements in 2007

1. Active involvement in the process to include children with disabilities in the Student Enrolment Register and so to include it in the Education Management Information System (EMIS), for the first time. This process included participation in the Promoting Inclusion workshop at the Sunway Hotel, a workshop in Kampot on Including Children With Disabilities in EMIS, translation of terminology for UNICEF, meetings with the leadership of MoEYS (HE Nath Bunrouen) and the Primary Education Department, and a video conference with the World Bank in Washington
2. Participation in MoEYS workshop in Kampot to finalize the contents of the draft Policy on Education for Children with Disabilities and advising MoEYS and the UNICEF consultant on development of the draft policy and implementation plan
3. Trained DAC members in advocacy skills and strategy planning, in partnership with VSO. Participants included 20 people from member organizations including Cambodia Trust, World Vision, Parent's Association, Chrysalis, CDPO, DDP, DDSP, HI-F, CVCD, Krousar Thmey, DYCFE, ABC, AAC, and Rabbit School
4. Active in leading the Cambodia Global Campaign for Education. Mobilizing students with and without disabilities, parents, teachers, educators, development partners and government officials (around 17,000 people) to join the Global Action Week in 9 provinces including the Big Hearing event in Phnom Penh calling for commitment to education as a fundamental human right
5. Ensured the rights and needs of children with disabilities were represented at a series of other events throughout the year including International Children's Day, International Day of Deaf Persons and
6. Joined CESSP/VSO on a study visit to Preah Vihear to look at school mapping and shared the information with Children with Disabilities Committee members
7. Wrote revisions to the draft national Teacher Standards to take account of the needs of disabled children
8. Participated in the advisory board of VSO's Mainstreaming Inclusive Education Project and in VSO's Education Programme Review to mainstream the needs of children with disabilities
9. Committee members actively participated in the World Bank funded workshop on Promoting Inclusion through Innovative Media and Materials at the Cambodiana Hotel, which was facilitated by the DAC
10. Provided reference information to stakeholders and visiting organizations such as IOM, World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, NEP , World Vision and various NGO members
11. Participated in Rabbit School's Advisory Committee Meetings and advised on proposals for funding
12. Participated in the National Dialogue on Scholarships in Sihanoukville to advocate for inclusion of disabled children as a target group in the proposed national scholarships scheme for primary schools
13. Joined Komar Pikar Foundation on a study visit to Disability development Services in Pursat
14. Delivered presentations on inclusive education at meetings held by Handicap International (France) and VSO and at DAC Information Days
15. Provided support to the consultant developing the Education component of the National Landmine Victim Assistance National Plan of Action
16. Observed delivery of Teaching Children with Special Needs training in Kampong Bay district, Kampot, giving feedback to the trainers
17. Conducted a preliminary study and a workshop to update and upgrade the Teaching Children with Special Needs in the Classroom training with MoEYS Special Education Office, VSO and DAC members
18. Participated in the annual Education Congress at the National Institute of Education to promote inclusion within the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) and Education Sector Support Program (ESSP)
19. Represented the rights and needs of children with disabilities to ensure these are mainstreamed in programs and policies, through active participation in the Education Sector Working Group, Joint Technical Working Group - Education and the Child Friendly Schools Steering Committee
20. Attended regular Educam meetings to obtain and share information on current and future activities in the education sector
21. DAC Program Officer elected as Vice-chair of the NGO Education Partnership (NEP) to advise NEP and it 75 Education NGOs members on mainstreaming disability in their programs
22. Monthly Children with Disabilities Committee meetings during 2007 included presentations on a variety of subjects by NGO members
23. DAC and the Children with Disabilities Committee would like to thank Em Wanroth (New Humanity, previous chairperson) and Uk Pheakdey (ADD, present chairperson) for their support in serving as the chairperson for the committee meetings.