The Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services – Phase 2 (ACCESS 2), in partnership with the Provincial Disability Action Council (PDAC) of Siem Reap, recently supported training sessions on Disability Inclusion (DI) and Physical Accessibility for commune and district authorities in Sot Nikum and Pouk districts.
These sessions build on achievements from ACCESS Phase 1 and reinforce the program’s long-term commitment to improving access to quality public services for persons with disabilities at both national and sub-national levels.
“Consideration of physical accessibility and reasonable accommodation is part of achieving disability inclusion,” said Ms Pok Vongsachamrong, Receptionist and Office Assistant at ACCESS 2 and a participant in the training.
Training Focus and Outcomes
The training covered:
- The concept of disability inclusion and its relevance in service delivery;
- National standards on physical accessibility;
- Tools and resources to support local implementation;
- Practical strategies for mobilising sub-national budgets for disability-inclusive activities.
Key results:
- Improved knowledge among participants on DI and accessibility standards;
- Action points identified to incorporate into annual workplans of local institutions.
Mr Sin Chanthol, Pouk District Governor, shared that local authorities are increasingly consulting with persons with disabilities to better understand their needs and to respond more effectively through inclusive governance.
Ms Tuy Loam, Deputy District Governor of Sot Nikum, welcomed the training’s relevance: “It helps us strengthen our understanding to better support persons with disabilities in our communities.”
Key Actions Identified by Participants
Each participant proposed relevant follow-up actions for their annual workplans, including:
- Organising awareness sessions on disability inclusion and social protection;
- Improving physical accessibility of public buildings such as schools, health centres and WASH facilities;
- Supporting disability identification processes and disability card distribution;
- Facilitating access to services for vulnerable groups, including survivors of GBV and persons with disabilities.
Building on Phase 1 Success
Under ACCESS Phase 1, 25 accessible ramps were constructed or renovated in commune halls across five provinces. These are now being used as replicable models to encourage resource mobilisation and local investment in accessibility improvements.
ACCESS 2 continues to work in close collaboration with DAC, PDAC, local authorities, Strategic Implementing Partners (SIPs), and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to expand and sustain inclusive development practices, ensuring that no one is left behind.
