Skip to main content
opds@turningpointbd.org
+88‑01786100900
+88‑09696999054
+88‑02‑9145055

A Directory of OPDs

Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Bangladesh

Skip Menu

What is an OPD?

Many international and national organizations are now recognizing and including Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in their programs and policies to promote diversity and inclusion. It is need of the hour to understand - What is an OPD? An OPD is the organizations OF persons with disabilities that means most of the persons involved in the organization at all level have disabilities. Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) are well-known as Disabled Peoples Organizations (DPOs). There are a number of definition of OPDs by different organization, for example:

  • "Organization of disabled persons" means that a majority of the members as well as the governing body shall be persons with disabilities.- Disabled Peoples International (DPI)
  • "OPDs are representative organizations or groups of persons with disabilities (PWDs(, where PWDs constitute a majority of the overall staff, board, and volunteers are well-represented in all levels of the organization. ...OPDs have an understanding of disability in accordance with the social model.- Disability Rights Fund (DRF)
  • DPO is a fundamental organization of persons with disabilities, fully governed and led by themselves, that ensures safeguard of their ownership, effective representation, non-influenced decision and recognition of DPO.- Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS)
  • A Disabled Peoples Organisation (DPO) is an organisation where the majority of the members as well as the Governing body (Board of Directors) are persons with disability. OPDs believe that people with disabilities are their own best spokespersons.- Disability Australia Hub
  • An Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) is a legal entity of persons with disabilities, exclusively led by themselves and fulfil organizational standards such as vision, mission, goals, objectives, governing bodies, bylaws, organogram, policies and procedures. The persons with disabilities MUST have ownership, participation and leadership in the OPDs.- Turning Point Foundation, Bangladesh

The persons with disabilities must have ownership, participation and leadership in the OPDs. OPDs are independent entity, they never should be controlled or dominated by someone. Because 'overlordship is the enemy of rights'. In spite of clear definition of OPDs, there are misunderstandings around the OPDs and the organizations working on disability. Major participation of persons with disabilities and their participation level is the major indicator to identify OPDs.

There are debates around the percentage of participation of persons with disabilities in OPDs: some say 100%, some say 66% and some say 51%. Some disability activists emphasize on democratic electoral process to elect leaders for a specific duration. Based on participation level, the disability related organizations could be classified into three categories:

OF – The organizations of persons with disabilities – OPDs, where at least 50% persons with disabilities at all level including the governing bodies.

WITH – The organizations work with persons with disabilities, where participation of persons with disabilities is less than 50% and greater than 25% at all level.

FOR – The organizations work for persons with disabilities, where no or less than 25% participation of persons with disabilities at all level. No or few of them in governing body.

A Directory of OPDs is downloadable from this link and a list of the OPDs in Bangladesh.