A mother with her daughter in a wheelchair.

The Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD) is an independent human rights organisation of persons with disabilities. Our vision is a society for all, where persons with disabilities have the same opportunity as others to live according to their own wishes, abilities and interests.

Founded in 1931, NAD has worked for equal rights and full participation for all for more than 80 years. NAD’s principal task is to fight all types of barriers that prevent women, men, girls, and boys with disabilities from being active participants as well as contributors in their communities. We advocate for full access to education, healthcare, employment, leisure, and political life for persons with disabilities.

We are in close communication with politicians and the authorities, both at national and local level, and work for the inclusion of persons with disabilities and their families in decision making processes at every level. We are first and foremost an advocacy organisation, but we also work to support and take care of our members. We have local branches and a network of volunteers who offer peer support through their own experience. Read more on our peer support page here (in Norwegian).

In addition, it is important for us to show solidarity with persons with disabilities in developing countries. NAD has been engaged in international development work since 1981 and is one of the founding members of the Atlas Alliance. We work to build the capacity of persons with disabilities and their organisations so that they are empowered to promote their human rights and disability inclusion.

At present, NAD has about 12 800 members, 153 local branches, 9 regional branches, 10 affiliated national diagnosis groups, and a youth organisation. In addition, our international department has country offices in Zambia and Uganda.

Would you like to know more about us?

You can contact us by phone at +47 24 10 24 00 or by email at nhf@nhf.no