About Our Organization
NFPDN was established in 1991 to advocate for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Namibia and has executed many projects over the past two decades. Over the years NFPDN has fought for persons with disabilities’ rights to: sustainable development and economic well-being; access to education; access to health care; training; employment and access to public facilities. Many initiatives of NFPDN have yielded positive results and have worked to place the policies and legal instruments focused on disability rights into practice. These include the development of the National Policy on Disability (1997) and the National Disability Council Act (2004), the establishment of a seat in Parliament reserved for representation of the interests of persons with disabilities, the establishment of a Disability Unit in the Office of Prime Minister, as well as the Disability Unit at the University of Namibia.
NFPDN is an umbrella organization of “organisations of persons with disabilities” (OPD’s) with members representing a variety of disability groups, including youth and women.
Members include –
- Namibia Association of Youth with Disabilities (NOYD)
- Namibian Federation of the Visually Impaired (NFVI)
- Namibia Association of Children with Disabilities (NACD)
- Namibia National Association of the Deaf (NNAD).
- National Association of Person with Physical Disabilities (NAPPD)
- National Albino Association (NAA)
- Namibian Association of Differently Abled Women (NADOW)
NOTE – There are several other OPD’s which represent additional disability groups which have indicated interest in joining NFPDN or are potential members including –
- Namibian Association of Wheelchair Users (NAWCU)
- Mental Health Association
- Autism Namibia
- Down’s Syndrome Association
- Luderitz Disability Association
- Epilepsy Association
Several of the above mentioned National organisations have affiliate organisations in the Regions.
NFPDN is a Registered Welfare Organisation with the Ministry of Health and Social Services,
W.O. Number 66.
Patron – Advocate, Ms. Bience Gawanas
Vision – To achieve equal opportunities and rights for all people with disabilities in Namibia.
Mission – To promote social justice, economic well-being and sustainable development of people with disabilities in Namibia.
Objectives –
- To establish a collective voice and action in lobbying and advocating for the realisation of a “society for all”.
- To mobilise people with disabilities into a movement capable of delivering an effective
- “person with disability “centred economic and social change.
- To develop persons with disabilities capacity to enable them to become competent
- Managers of their own self development and destiny
To promote relevant linkages so as to gain and share experiences and establish partnerships.
To carry out appropriate activities conducive to the attainment of the organisation’s vision, mission and objectives.