For decades, people with disabilities in Cambodia—whether physical, visual, hearing, or intellectual—remained largely invisible in the country’s media landscape. They were often portrayed as objects of pity or charity cases, not as active, capable citizens. COSD, founded in 2002 by students with disabilities, had spent years advocating for accessibility in education and employment. But they realized a critical gap: no media outlet was by and for people with disabilities.
In late 2018, with a small grant from a disability rights foundation and a handful of second-hand cameras, COSD launched on YouTube and Facebook. The mission was simple yet profound: “Nothing about us without us.”
That same year, they launched —a weekly show entirely in Cambodian Sign Language (CSL), without voice-over. It was a bold statement: deaf people deserve news in their own language, not as an afterthought. cosd tv cambodia
In the bustling heart of Phnom Penh, where the hum of motorbikes blends with the chatter of street vendors, a small digital media studio began a quiet revolution in 2018. This was the birthplace of COSD TV Cambodia , an online television channel run by the Cambodian Organization for Students with Disabilities (COSD) .
Their next dream: a 24/7 streaming channel and a mobile app with customizable accessibility features. But they realized a critical gap: no media
As their founder, Srey Leak (a wheelchair user since a childhood polio infection), often says: “We didn’t start this channel to ask for sympathy. We started it to show ability. And now, Cambodia is finally watching.”
The first broadcast was a shaky, low-budget 10-minute news summary. But it featured something unprecedented—a young woman in a wheelchair anchoring the news, a sign language interpreter in the corner, and voice-over descriptions for the visually impaired. It wasn't polished, but it was real. It was a bold statement: deaf people deserve
In 2022, COSD TV caught the attention of the Ministry of Information. Impressed by their pandemic work, the Ministry officially recognized them as a legitimate digital media outlet—the first disability-led channel to receive such status. This opened doors for small government advertising contracts and partnerships with major NGOs.