About NFDN

The disability movement in Nepal gained momentum when Nepal celebrated the international year of disability in 1981. The first special legal instrument concerning disability was enacted in 1982 which was Disabled Protection and Welfare Act 2039. It was the first legal document, but due to the delay of making essential rules to implement the Act no remarkable outputs observed during 12 years.

After 1990 the reinstatement of democracy inspired the community of people with disabilities to raise their voice in an organized way, consequently a visible change occurred in the approach of disability, organizations and leadership. People with disabilities themselves took the lead and started to put their causes more effectively. In 1990 several NGOs were established by and for people with disabilities. Increased international contents and participations of People with Disabilities in different international forum also created awareness and eagerness within the community.

In 1993 some pioneer personalities and leaders from the organizations by and for people with disabilities had the idea of strengthening the disability movement throughout the nation and explored a concept of ‘Umbrella Organization’. Under this concept the National Federation of the Disabled Nepal (NFDN) was established and registered in district administration office in 1993 with a strong commitment to lead the disability movement all over the nation. At the very beginning, the key roles of NFDN were to work as a pressure group at Government policy level and raise awareness about disability in different communities.

NFDN has also ensured its active participation in the network of international disability movement as the member national assembly of Disabled People’ International (DPI) and regional council member of DPI Asia Pacific Region.