About Us
Our Vision: A society where persons with disabilities enjoy their rights, and are able to lead full and productive lives.
The NCD plays a coordinating role in a multi-sectoral approach to helping persons with disabilities to live full and productive lives.
The National Commission on Disability (NCD) is appointed by and accountable to the President of Guyana. It was officially launched on December 10, 1997. The Commission by an act of Parliament in June 2010 is now governed by the Guyana Act No. 11 of 2010 Persons with Disability Act 2010 which was assented to by President Jagdeo on 2nd November 2010 .It comprises 12 members appointed by Cabinet and selected by agencies and organizations.
There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.
Functions and Roles
Promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
Facilitate development of policy to im-prove the lives of people with disabili-ties
Advise government on all issues relating to persons with disabilities.
Develop and implement programs to ensure equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Review and evaluate programs to ensure continued effectiveness.
Strategic Plan
NCD has developed a Strategic Plan 2015-2019 which has general objectives and strategies of four program components as stated below:
- Capacity Building
- General Objective: Strengthen the capacities of women, men and children with disabilities and Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) to advocate for their rights and to effectively and efficiently manage their organizations.
- Advocacy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- General Objective: Advocate for the respect, protection and fulfilment of the rights of women, men and children with disabilities.
- Monitoring and Compliance with Legislation
- General Objective: Ensure that the legislation is implemented as prescribed.
- Organizational Strengthening of NCD
- General Objective: Strengthen the capacity of the Commission to carry out its Mission.
Structure
The commission comprises 12 members appointed by Cabinet and selected by agencies and organizations. The members of the Commission are drawn from the following bodies:
- Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)
- Ministry of Education (MoE)
- Ministry of Social Protection (MoSP)
- Department of Labour
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA)
- Organized Labour
- Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs)- three (3) members
- Experienced Care Giver of People with Disabilities (PWDs)
- The Private Sector
The Ministries of Health, Education, Labour and Social Protection are the lead Ministries responsible for promoting the rights of people with disabilities.
The Commissioners and the Chairperson are appointed by the Cabinet and all Commissioners, including the Chairperson, are volunteers. The Executive Secretary, who is accountable to the Commission and advises and makes recommendations to the Commission with regard to programming, is responsible for running the programs and has autonomy to make day-to-day decisions.