Every year the International Day of Persons with Disabilities starts with a march to the celebration site. The participants really look forward to being in the public eye and being recognized this way, but the Ministry of Social Affairs that organized this year's event wanted the people with disabilities to gather at 6:30 AM. That would mean our deaf students would be bicycling across town in the dark so the Deaf Development Programme notified the ministry that we would not participate in the march.
The Celebration The celebration of the International Day of People with Disabilities is frustrating in Cambodia. It should be a day for the people with disabilities to feel recognized and to have fun, but those goals seem to get lost as the government ministries take over and practically turn it into Ministry Day. The focus is on the officials who come. All participants must be in their seats before the minister arrives (this year at 8:25 AM). Then there are 2+ hours of speeches interspersed with a couple quick skits and dances by deaf people. The poor kids with disabilities sit in their chairs from 7:30 to 11:00 AM and pay no attention to all the adults speaking about things they likely do not believe and certainly don't honor. In other countries the people with disabilities have activities, displays, games, exhibits, performances, etc. Here they sit and listen to officials.  When the speeches are finally finished the official guests tour the exhibits and then leave. And all the TV cameras and reporters leave with them. They know what they need to put on the air, and it isn't the people with disabilities. Then in the afternoon, the people with disabilities have some games and performances that they have prepared. But by then the VIPS are long gone and only the street kids and motordupe drivers are watching. Ever year we complain about the program but nothing changes, partly because the Cambodian people are so respectful of authority and feel that if the government officials don't come, it's not a real celebration. My view would be to plan the day for the people with disabilities and invite the government to participate, maybe to join in the march with them or to give out prizes for the games at the end. If they come, fine; if they don't, fine. But no speeches.
	These are young deaf students from Krousar Thmey deaf school in Phnom Penh. They are skilled traditional dancers. The girls in white and gold do a blessing or wishing dance. The young people in green do a peacock dance, with headpieces made of peacock feathers.
	After the march all the people with disabilities must take their seats. Tents are set up in a public park in front of a temporary stage under another tent where the ministry officials and invited guests sit.
	Two of the deaf young women doing the Blessing Dance. Part of the dance involves gently tossing jasmine blossoms toward the guests being honored.
	About 25 or 30 NGOs which work with people with disabilities set up booths and exhibits to display their work and activities, and to answer questions the public might have. The people with disabilities in Cambodia would be in very bad shape if the NGOs were not here to work with them.
	At the exhibit of the Deaf Development Programme, Sokly, our manager, and Sokchea (r), a sign language researcher, explain our sign language books and brochures to the Minister of Social Affairs as he tours the exhibits.