The Constitution of Mongolia states that every citizen has fundamental rights to live in a healthy and safe environment, to study, to develop and express their opinion freely. However, in reality, these fundamental rights become a most difficult task to fulfill for people with disabilities. Mongolia has just over three million population; of them, more than 103 thousand are people living with disabilities. Mongolia approved a Law on Defending Rights of People with Disabilities in 2015 under the last Democratic Party administration; however, it has been largely left only on paper. Most children with disabilities cannot participate in schools; the result – they are unable to develop and, later in life, to be employed. Traditionally, Christian churches have become the only place where disabled children can learn foreign languages, music instruments and meet each other. Sadly, they are very few.

Fortunately, the first ever Deaf Club is about to open in the Sukhbaatar District of Ulaanbaatar. The club has a studio, kitchen, television room, training room and visitor’s hall. Currently, over 20 young people have joined the club. Here, they can exercise, do sports, learn foreign sign languages and study IT technology.