Empower People with Disabilities in Cambodia

At Epic Arts, we wholeheartedly believe in building an inclusive society where every person, including those with disabilities, is not only counted but also celebrated for their uniqueness.

Our inclusive education program is all about empowering and educating children living with disabilities, enabling them to lead independent lives and thrive in their society.

We deliver integrated classrooms at various local state primary schools in Kampot to foster inclusion allowing students to participate in the same educational activities and social experiences, regardless of their abilities.

We recently spoke to the parents of one of the students who attends an Epic Arts integrated class in Kampot.

Before Tola* started primary school there were issues with his ability to integrate. He spoke very little and had difficulty communicating, which caused concern for his parents. At home Tola was sometimes disobedient and didn’t engage much with hisparents.

When Tola started school in grade 1 he was with other students in a general class. Compared to other classmates his reading was slow and he couldn’t write. Tola’s parents met with his teacher, who suspected he had autism. After an assessment, it was confirmed that Tola had autism and would benefit from the integrated classes delivered at his school, taught by teachers from Epic Arts.

Tola’s parents were pleased that such a class was available and have been proactive in ensuring Tola receives the necessary support. Initially offered only on Fridays, the classes now run Monday to Friday. They are grateful for the integrated class, which has greatly helped their sons development. Tola, who once had limited communication and social skills, now writes beautifully, asks questions and interacts more at home. His parents note that Tola’s overall development has improved from about 20% to 80%. Previously withdrawn, Tola is now more social, inquisitive and engaged with family, friends and the community.

Tola’s parents understand that teaching children with disabilities requires tailored support, as every child learns differently. They appreciate the smaller class sizes and more individual attention their son receives in the integrated class, which has made a big difference compared to the larger classes he was in before, where the teacher’s attention was spread thin.

They value effective teaching methods, especially appreciating teachers’ patience and their ability to connect with students. Tola has been in integrated classes for two years and enjoys learning. He has made progress in communication and is developing positive relationships with his peers and teachers, which has helped him improve at school.

Tola’s parents are grateful their son has access to education and hope their son will gain the knowledge and skills to be independent and support himself through work in the future.

They would like to see to see a change the mindset of parents who keep their children with disabilities at home, encouraging these parents to let their children participate in school and social activities as they believe this is crucial for the child’s development.

*Name changed to protect students identity.