“There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more.” – Robert M. Hensel, Guinness World Record Holder
According to WHO, almost 1 billion people in the world are living with some or the other form of disability. This constitutes 15% of the global population. As defined by WHO, disability is the interaction between a person’s health condition ( such as- cerebral palsy, down syndrome) with the environmental factors ( such as- negative attitude of people, limited access to transport). In a world which is constantly striving for ‘inclusivity’, the social support structures for people with disabilities remains deplorable.
World Disability Day is celebrated on December 3 every year to spread awareness about disability issues and gather support to advocate for a healthy, safe and inclusive environment for them.
Goodera has curated a comprehensive list of nonprofits in a series, working for the people with disabilities in different parts of the world.
Blind Aidis providing emotional and practical assistance to the people with visual impairment and blindness in London
The nonprofit started in 1834 with the name of ‘The Indigent Blind Visiting Society’ with the aim to help poor people in their homes. It also provided them with the assistance to learn some skills like craft work which would make them employable. Even during World War II, the charity worked relentlessly to help the wounded.
The nonprofit evolved to become “Blind Aid”, guided by the same principles with the added objective of reaching more people in need of help.
Ways to help-
Volunteer with Blind Aid and become the changemaker
Bizlink Centre has been serving the people with disabilities since its inception in 1986. The nonprofit is focused on equipping these people with practical skills and knowledge so that they can get a job and improve their quality of life.
To achieve its mission of providing people with disabilities independence, inclusivity and dignity, the nonprofit runs various programs like Sheltered Workshop Programme, Work Therapy Programme, Day Activity Centre (DAC) and Vocational Assessment Service.
Ways to help-
Volunteer because the most valuable contribution is time
Donate and help the nonprofit keep going and growing
Established in 2013 with the aim to fight prejudices and discriminatory behavior towards deaf people, the Deaf Empowerment Society of Kenya was first of its kind to focus on the needs of these people and improve their living conditions.
DESK is dedicated to provide education, skill building, employment opportunities, access to economic resources and basic human rights like health, sexual and reproductive. The economic, social and political upliftment of hard of hearing people and deaf people will ensure a better standard of living to them.
Founded in 1992 by a group of parents, Autism Association of Singapore aims to identify and promote the treatment, education and welfare of people with autism or autistic-like features.
AAS encourages people to support persons on the autism spectrum and their families. The nonprofit runs various programmes like- Eden Children’s Centre, Eden School, Eden Centre for Adults and Eden Activity Club, to engage people on the autism spectrum and promote inclusivity.
Ways to help-
Donate and help the beneficiaries with your generous contribution
Volunteer and work for the welfare of the beneficiaries
Eye Heroesis working to fight avoidable blindness in the UK
Eye Heroes was founded in 2016 as a child-led campaign to spread awareness about eye health. The nonprofit aims to fight avoidable blindness by training children aged 8-12 through interactive workshops.
The aim is to spread awareness about eye health and the need for eye checkups and the workshops are free of cost. Till date, 8,913 children have been trained successfully in eye health and have informed around 76,652 other people about the same.
Echo Communityis providing care to independently living old people who require assistance in Australia
Echo Community Services was established in 1982 with the aim of helping old people living independently in their homes. The services provided back then were gardening and limited house maintenance services.
Today, the nonprofit has grown by leaps and bounds and offers a range of services for the elderly like Day Centre, Transport, Domestic Assistance, Personal Care, Home and Garden Maintenance and Social Support.
Ways to help-
Donate and help the nonprofit fund necessary equipments for the beneficiaries
Leave a Bequest in your will to provide a continued support to the npo
Kuching Autistic Associationis helping people with autism live a independent and economically productive lives in Singapore
Kuching Autistic Association was founded in 1998 to equip children and young adults with life skills and education to help them lead a meaningful, economically independent and enriched life.
It works to identify, treat and educate people with autism because the nonprofit strongly believes that early intervention can do wonders. It works on developing communication, social and living skills for preschool children and young adults to integrate them into the school system and find employment opportunities.
For Life Thailandis addressing the needs of children with special needs in Thailand
With a vision to support children with disabilities and help them in getting raised at their homes among their families, For Life Thailand is a UK registered charity firm.
In partnership with Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities (CCD), the nonprofit has been working for over 30 years to provide care, opportunities and respect through day-care and special residential care for disabled children who are unable to live with their families and family-based rehabilitation in communities to empower parents/guardians to raise disabled children at home.
Jamaica Association for the Deaf was established in 1938 with the objective of improving the quality of life for the deaf and hard of hearing people.
The nonprofit provides special education and vocational training for the deaf people. The association also runs a Hearing Clinic, Social Services that includes transitional services, training unit that facilitates Jamaican Sign Language and Deaf culture education and a Fine Hand Bindery which aims to provide skill training and employment opportunities for the Deaf community as well income generation.
Anouk Foundationis working for young girls with special needs across Europe
Anouk Foundation was established in 2008 to provide care and support to little girls with special needs.
The volunteer artists take up projects at hospitals, day-care centres, education centres and clinics where they paint “therapeutic” murals to give the place a sense of positivity and lift up the morale of children, doctors, nurses, educators, patients and the residents. The nonprofit has their projects across 16 countries and 90 institutions.
Ways to help-
Become a project sponsor where the project is tailored to suit your goals
If you are a Company, make Anouk a part of your CSR
Down Syndrome Corkis helping individuals with down syndrome reach their full potential in Ireland
Down Syndrome Cork is the Cork branch of national organisation, Down Syndrome Ireland with 360 member families.
The nonprofit aims to provide resources, support and holistic care to people with down syndrome, encourage active community participation, foster positive attitude and help people with down syndrome live a wholesome and dignified life. Down Syndrome Cork offers various services such as- Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Educational Services among others.
Ways to help-
Keep an eye on their calendar to check the upcoming events
Help in Fundraising to maximise the number of beneficiaries
Best Buddies Russiais creating healthy connections for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Russia
Best Buddies was founded in 1989 with the aim of developing one-to-one friendships, employment and leadership development opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Running its programs across 50 countries, the nonprofit has grown from one original chapter to reaching approximately 1,900 middle schools, high-schools and colleges.
Upsala Circusis addressing social and cultural issues through its performances put up by children with disabilities in Russia
Through its contemporary circus and street art, Upsala Circus focuses on amplifying human creative impact and shedding light on the importance of cultural development as a source of lasting social impact.
Keeping in mind children with disabilities, Upsala Circus runs various social programmes for them which includes- regular training sessions, all-inclusive circus performance, vocational camps and art residences. The charity also helps these children master professional abilities for capacity building and economic development. Young circus artists are also taken on international circus tours to give them exposure.
Ways to help-
Join their team and explore your creative side while helping the beneficiaries
Contact them to make donations or for any other information
Yom-Yom Inclusive Centeris helping special children learn to tackle aggression and develop tolerance in Russia
Yom-Yom Inclusive Center is a children-centric charity with a 3:1 ratio of ordinary children to children with special needs. Every year, almost 200 special needs get the chance to be in a healthy, safe and inclusive environment which promotes peer-to-peer learning.
The charity, in collaboration with the Help Needed Foundation, the Donors Forum Association and the Dobro Mail.ru service, help families with special children to enable them to lead normal lives, have a Day-stay Centre, Resource Groups and Case Management Service.
Les Cajoutiersis improving the quality of lives of destitute Senegalese children with down Syndrome
Les Cajoutiers is committed to giving a better life to children with down syndrome from poor, deaf families through school education, balanced nutrition and medical check-up.
In its mission to maximise the number of beneficiaries a better future through quality education, the nonprofit identifies and takes in children from poor families with down syndrome. The charity develops a special curriculum based on the American-Sign Language to train and educate these children.
Ways to help-
Make a donation to help the charity help more children with down syndrome
Turkey Library for the Visually Impaired was established in 2004 to provide access to written sources for the visually imparied people living in Turkey and those living abroad who speak Turkish.
TURGOK provides services to almost 6,000 visually impaired people across Turkey, England, the Netherlands, Cyprus, America and Germany. It provides audio books and books in braille, E-KPSS, KPSS and an audio-friendly magazine in English MP3 format to the members and sends these to their homes across different parts of the world free of cost.
Ways to help-
Donate for the programme for the programme of your interest
Best Buddies International is a global organisation working to end social, physical and economic exclusion of people with special needs
Best Buddies International is an all-inclusive charity working towards building healthy connections for people with down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams Syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other diseases but is not just limited to them.
The nonprofit helps them build friendships, professional connections to secure a job, self-advocacy, improving communication skills and feel valued within themselves and by the society.
Caudwell Childrenis shaping the future of children with special needs through holistic care and support in the UK
With a vision to enable children with disabilities to lead a normal life, Caudwell Children provides them with services, equipment, therapy and treatments they need. It encourages these children to live an independent life reaching for their full potential.
The nonprofit strives for a world where all children with disabilities have opportunities, dignity and understanding. Caudwell Children provides them with emotional and practical support through efficient services.
Hope for Special Children is spreading awareness about the educational needs of children with special needs in Ethiopia
Hope for Special Children aims to provide a healthy educational environment to children with special needs and create a strong support for special education.
Through advocacy, training and collaboration, the nonprofit helps children upto the age of 22 in getting access to education. The charity mentors educators, therapists, psychologists and family members to understand the needs of these children and acquire the skills needed in order to maximise the chosen path of the students.
This International Day of People with Disabilities, volunteer for nonprofits working for the cause with Goodera
Most valuable contribution is your time and you have the ability go change the life of a person with special needs through volunteering.
Goodera helps companies engage their goal-oriented employees to come forward and help those in need by their simple act of volunteering. These team/individual efforts go a long way in supporting people with disabilities and building more inclusive communities.
Nonprofits play a key role in helping us do good for the global community. They are the torchbearers in our journey of doing good.
As a token of gratitude for the nonprofits globally, we have curated a list of free resources below that can be helpful in mobilizing more volunteers, increasing donor-base and networking with other nonprofits and corporations.
