The ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF) is a network composed by Organisation of Persons with Disabilities (DPOs) of the ASEAN region. It is a platform, where DPOs coordinate actions to advocate for disability inclusive policy formulation and implementation.ADF works in all areas, aiming to the main stream and the needs of people with Disabilities to enter their perspectives in the policy framework of ASEAN.
The main goal is to represent the disability movement from the ASEAN region, providing opportunities for Organisation of Persons with Disabilities to build their advocacy and organisational capacity, to facilitate the sharing of mutual support and information
ADF is a platform of action to bring the voice of DPOs at grassroots level to policy makers and to connect people to the policy makers who live in its member countries.
ADF initiative started in 2009, when a group of DPOs attended the ASEAN People’s Forum (APF), realized that in order to raise awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities and promote disability inclusive policies in the adoption of the ASEAN countries, DPOs needed to organize and build capacity for advocacy affect the structure of ASEAN. To start DPOs become a member of the National Committee of the APF, is closely involved with other ASEAN Civil Society Organizations; This allows them to introduce permanent session on the rights of persons with disabilities in the APF were included in the final statement of the Forum which is then submitted to the ASEAN Summit.
Advocacy activities that establish the ADF first held in Jakarta in 2010 and produces amazing results document submitted to the ASEAN secretariat. Later, it became a document of principles for the “Bali Declaration on Enhancing the Role and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the ASEAN Community” adopted at the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali in the first 2011. The document stated significantly support the ASEAN initiative to establish an ASEAN Disability Forum as a multi-stakeholder effort, including the Member States of ASEAN, the ASEAN Secretariat, the media, the business sector, academic groups, organizations with Disabilities, disability-related organizations and parent organizations / their families.
The inauguration of the ASEAN Disability Forum conducted on 18 to 19 September 2011, in Bangkok, Thailand. On that occasion, the ADF adopted the Bangkok Declaration, which provide input to promote Disability inclusive policies , the Strategic Framework of Social Welfare and Development 2011 -.2015 (as part of the 2011-2020 ASEAN decade of Persons with Disabilities).
