Friday, January 16, 2009

A brief history of how the Organization was founded, how it became affiliated regionally and internationally, and some of the regional and international events its representatives have attended.

2008

ABAPD President, ABAPD Public Relations Officer, and DPI North America and the Caribbean (DPI NAC) Project Development Officer participated in the Two-Day Health Education Workshop put on by the DPI NAC National Assembly in St. Kitts and Nevis in June.

2007

The ABAPD President witnessed in person the Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the United Nations Dr. John W. Ashe sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on behalf of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on March 30 in the United Nations General Assembly Hall during the signing ceremony for the Convention.

2006

The ABAPD President and Treasurer represented the national assembly at the Disabled Peoples' International North America and the Caribbean (DPI NAC) Regional Assembly in December 2006 in Trinidad that included a three-day health education seminar entitled Discovering the Potential Inside: Claiming Our Right to a Healthy Lifestyle.  The President was elected as a Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) World Council Member during the DPI NAC Council Meetings.

2004

For the first time in the history of Antigua and Barbuda, a capacity building conference entitled "Networking & Communications: Increasing the Knowledge Base of the North America/Caribbean Region" accommodating representatives from the 14 national assembly members of the Disabled Peoples' International North America/Caribbean Region was convened in Antigua from January 12-16, hosted by ABAPD.

In September, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), now the Regional Development Officer of DPI NACR, attended the DPI World Summit in Winnipeg Canada.

2003

The Association was represented by its President at the DPOC Strategic Planning Meeting and annual general meeting in September in Barbados.

The Secretary of the Association attended the Caribbean Sustainable Development Network (CSEDNet) Workshop on Environmental Economics for Civil Society organizations in the Eastern Caribbean organized by the Sustainable Economic Development Unit (SEDU), a department of the University of the West Indies.  The workshop was staged in Grenada in September.

The Asst. Sec. Treas. attended a Regional Sports Disability Workshop for coaches facilitated by the Australian Caribbean Community Sport Development Program in Nevis in November.

2002

The Association was represented by its President and a young member at the DPI NACR Leadership Training Seminar and Council Meeting in June in St. Lucia.

In October, the President of the Association attended the DPI Sixth World Assembly and Council Meetings in Sapporo, Japan.

2001

ABAPD sent Members of the Association to a Public Relations Workshop in Barbados in June, Management Development Skills Training Workshop in St. Vincent in July and a Business Development Workshop in St. Kitts in September, all staged by DPOC.

In October, President of ABAPD attended an Extraordinary Council Meeting of DPOC in addition to a Strategic Planning & Policy Workshop held in Barbados both staged at the same time.  As the DPI NACR representative to the DPI World Council, he also participated in the DPI NACR Council Meeting that was held after the Workshop.

2000

A Member of the Association was sent to Trinidad in June for a DPOC Leadership Development Workshop.  In August, the Association again observed the 2^nd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

1999

In June two persons represented the Association at a Regional "Training the Trainers" Workshop sponsored by the OAS Multilateral Project on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Barbados.  The Workshop was executed by the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) of Trinidad and Tobago.

ABAPD sent a Member of the Association to observe the 1^st Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament in honor of the late Kenny Rodriguez staged by the Paralympic Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (PAR.O.T.T).

1998

In November, ABAPD was represented for the first time at a DPI NACR  Regional Council Meeting and the official launching of DPOC in Barbados.  The Organization later in the year sent two delegates to the Disabled Peoples' International  (DPI) 5^TH World Assembly International Leadership Forum held in Mexico in December.

1997

In February, ABAPD officially joined DPI NACR and became the representing national assembly of Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) Headquartered in Canada  soon after.  ABAPD then became a member of the newly incorporated Disabled Peoples' Organizations of the Caribbean (DPOC) in March  1997.  The Organization continues to be in constant communication with international organizations such as Disability Awareness in Action (DAA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

1996

On April 29, we were incorporated and registered, Registration No. 3619.

In August three persons represented ABAPD at a Regional Leadership Training Workshop held in Jamaica sponsored by DPI-NACR in conjunction with the Danish Youth Organization of Disabled Persons.

Formation, Inauguration and Affiliations

1995

The Antigua & Barbuda Association of Persons with Disabilities (ABAPD) was founded on May 20, by persons with disabilities who recognize the absence of an active voice who understood the rights and needs of persons with disabilities and who want to play a significant part in the decisions that affect our daily lives.

Then Chairperson of Disabled Peoples' International North America/Caribbean Region (DPI NACR), the late Mr. Reginald Rolle, officiated at our inaugural Meeting when our first Board of Directors was elected.

Immediately following the devastating tropical storm Hurricane Luis in September, ABAPD sent two delegates to a Regional Strategic Planning Meeting held in St. Vincent sponsored by DPI NACR.

Participants in these events have  had the opportunity to make new friends and have new experiences.  The  Association has forged important connections and gained valuable information  to assist us in formulating programs which will further the cause of  disabled persons in Antigua & Barbuda.

Home | About Us | Directors | Constitution | Objectives | Services | Activities | Help | Membership | Members | Links | White Paper on Disability