Building an Inclusive Papua New Guinea Where Every Person Belongs
The Papua New Guinea Assembly of Disabled Persons (PNG ADP) is the united national voice of persons with disabilities — advocating for equal rights, full participation, and meaningful inclusion in every aspect of our nation's life. Together, we are not asking for special treatment. We are demanding what is rightfully ours: dignity, opportunity, and belonging.
Disabilities in PNG
Chapters
Advocacy
Nothing About Us Without Us — the fundamental principle that shapes every action we take, every policy we advocate, and every partnership we forge.
— Founding Principle of PNG ADP
Why the Papua New Guinea Assembly of Disabled Persons Exists
The Papua New Guinea Assembly of Disabled Persons (PNG ADP) exists to be the collective, unified voice of all persons with disabilities across Papua New Guinea — a voice that refuses to be silenced, overlooked, or spoken for by others.
In Papua New Guinea, an estimated 15% of the population — over 2.4 million people — live with some form of disability. Many face profound barriers to education, healthcare, employment, and basic community participation. Cultural stigma, inaccessible infrastructure, and inadequate policy frameworks compound the daily challenges faced by persons with disabilities in our country.
PNG ADP was established to change this reality — fundamentally and permanently. We are a national Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) that brings together individuals, community groups, and provincial disability organisations under one powerful advocacy umbrella. We work to ensure that the rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) are not just words on paper, but lived realities for every Papua New Guinean with a disability.
Our Vision: To create a Papua New Guinea in which persons with disabilities take their place as full and dignified members of society, free from restrictions, abuse and barriers to inclusion.
The Principles That Guide Everything We Do
These values are not aspirational slogans. They are the non-negotiable standards against which we measure every decision, every partnership, and every action taken in the name of persons with disabilities in Papua New Guinea.
Every person with a disability in Papua New Guinea has the same inherent rights and deserves the same dignity, respect, and opportunities as every other citizen. We oppose all forms of discrimination — whether overt exclusion, benevolent paternalism, or structural neglect — that denies persons with disabilities their full and equal participation in society. Equality is not a privilege to be granted; it is a right to be upheld.
Inclusion means more than being present — it means being valued, heard, and empowered to contribute. We champion the right of persons with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of community, national, and public life — from education and employment to governance and cultural expression. True inclusion transforms communities by recognising that diversity of ability enriches our collective strength.
"Nothing About Us Without Us" is more than a motto — it is our operational mandate. Persons with disabilities must lead, speak, and decide for themselves. We reject any approach that positions disabled people as passive recipients of charity or objects of pity. PNG ADP exists to amplify disabled voices, not replace them. Our leadership, governance, and advocacy are driven by persons with disabilities at every level.
The disability community in Papua New Guinea is extraordinarily diverse — spanning physical, sensory, intellectual, psychosocial, and multiple disabilities across 800+ languages and distinct cultural groups. We honour this diversity while building unity of purpose. Regardless of the type of disability, geographic location, gender, or age, every member's experience matters and every voice strengthens our collective advocacy.
As the national representative organisation for persons with disabilities, PNG ADP holds itself to the highest standards of accountability — to our members, our partners, and the communities we serve. We are transparent in our governance, responsible in our use of resources, and open about both our achievements and our challenges. We expect the same accountability from government and service providers.
Where We Focus Our Energy for Maximum Impact
PNG ADP concentrates its advocacy and programs on the areas that will create the most transformative, lasting change for persons with disabilities across Papua New Guinea. Each priority is grounded in the lived experiences of our members and aligned with international human rights frameworks.
Legislative & Policy Reform
Advocating for the ratification and domestic implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). We work with parliamentarians, government departments, and legal experts to develop, strengthen, and enforce disability-inclusive legislation — including a comprehensive National Disability Policy that enshrines rights-based approaches in law and allocates dedicated budget provisions for disability inclusion across all government sectors.
Inclusive Education Access
Fighting for every child and young person with a disability to have access to quality, inclusive education. This includes advocating for accessible school infrastructure, trained teachers equipped for inclusive classrooms, adapted curricula and learning materials, assistive technologies, and the elimination of discriminatory enrolment practices. We work at national and provincial levels to ensure education policies are disability-responsive and adequately funded.
Accessible Healthcare & Rehabilitation
Ensuring that persons with disabilities can access quality healthcare services without barriers — physical, attitudinal, financial, or informational. We advocate for disability-accessible health facilities, trained health workers, affordable rehabilitation services, access to assistive devices, and disability-inclusive health information. We push for disability to be mainstreamed across all health programmes, including sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and emergency preparedness.
Economic Empowerment & Livelihoods
Creating pathways to economic independence through skills training, vocational programmes, micro-enterprise support, and employment advocacy. We work with the private sector and government to promote disability-inclusive hiring practices, workplace accessibility, and reasonable accommodation. Our goal: dismantling the cycle of poverty and dependency that traps persons with disabilities when economic opportunities are denied.
Women & Girls with Disabilities
Recognising the compounded discrimination faced by women and girls with disabilities — including higher rates of gender-based violence, exclusion from education, and limited access to maternal health services. We prioritise gender-responsive disability programming, support women's leadership within the disability movement, and advocate for specific protections and services that address the unique vulnerabilities and strengths of disabled women and girls in PNG.
Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Resilience
Papua New Guinea is one of the world's most disaster-prone nations. Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by natural disasters, climate events, and emergencies — yet are routinely excluded from preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. PNG ADP advocates for disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction strategies, accessible early warning systems, and the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all phases of emergency management and climate adaptation planning.
Every Voice Matters. Every Right Counts.
Persons with disabilities in Papua New Guinea deserve more than sympathy — they deserve systemic change. PNG ADP exists to ensure that change happens — not someday, but now. Whether you are a person with a disability, a family member, a partner organisation, or a government leader, there is a role for you in building an inclusive PNG.
How PNG ADP Is Organised to Serve Our Members
PNG ADP's governance structure is designed to ensure democratic representation, accountability, and the direct participation of persons with disabilities at every level of leadership and decision-making. Our structure reflects our core belief: disabled people must lead their own movement.
PNG ADP has a 13-member Board consisting of 8 Provincial representatives, 1 disability Line agency representative, and 4 Executive members. The Board provides strategic leadership and governance, setting the direction for PNG ADP's advocacy, programs, and organisational development. Board members are persons with disabilities who bring diverse expertise, lived experience, and regional perspectives to national leadership. The Board ensures the organisation remains accountable to its grassroots membership and that national priorities reflect the lived realities of persons with disabilities across all provinces of PNG.
Provincial representatives are Organisations of Persons with a Disability (OPDs) — there is one for each of the 22 provinces in PNG. These provincial organisations are the foundation of PNG ADP's strength, working directly with community members, persons with disabilities, NGOs, INGOs, and government at the local and provincial level. They carry out local advocacy, provide peer support, collect data on disability issues, and serve as the primary link between persons with disabilities in communities and the national movement. They ensure that PNG ADP's advocacy is grounded in reality and that the benefits of national-level change reach the people who need them most.
Disability Line Agencies
Empowering young persons with disabilities through education, mentorship, and youth-led advocacy initiatives across Papua New Guinea
Advancing gender equity and addressing the compounded barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities in PNG
Representing and advocating for the rights and inclusion of persons with visual impairments across Papua New Guinea
Advocating for the Deaf community including sign language recognition, access to interpreters, and inclusive communication
Supporting persons with physical disabilities through advocacy, rehabilitation services, and accessibility promotion
Additional disability-specific organisations and agencies contributing to the broader disability rights movement in PNG
How PNG ADP Creates Systemic Change for Persons with Disabilities
PNG ADP doesn't just talk about change — we build it through strategic, evidence-based advocacy at every level, from community awareness to international policy engagement.
Government Policy Engagement
We engage directly with national and provincial government — advising on disability-inclusive legislation, participating in policy consultations, and holding authorities accountable for their commitments to disability rights. Our advocacy has contributed to significant policy developments and increased government attention to disability inclusion in national planning.
International Representation
PNG ADP represents PNG's disability community in regional and international forums — including the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), the Pacific Islands Forum, UN processes, and partnerships with international disability organisations. We ensure that PNG's disability voices are heard on the global stage and that international commitments translate into domestic action.
Community Awareness & Attitude Change
Through awareness campaigns, media engagement, community dialogues, and events such as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we work to shift public attitudes — from pity and exclusion toward recognition, respect, and active inclusion. Changing hearts and minds is foundational to lasting systemic change.
Research & Evidence Building
We support disability data collection, participatory research, and evidence-based reporting that strengthens our advocacy and informs better policy. By documenting the barriers, experiences, and aspirations of persons with disabilities across PNG, we build the evidence base that makes our calls for change impossible to ignore.
Not
Charity.
PNG ADP advocates from a position of rights and empowerment — not charity or sympathy. Disability rights are human rights.
The People Behind the Movement
The true measure of PNG ADP's impact is not in policy documents or organisational charts — it is in the changed lives, amplified voices, and growing confidence of persons with disabilities across Papua New Guinea.
"Before joining PNG ADP, I felt invisible in my own community. Through the provincial chapter, I learned about my rights, gained advocacy skills, and now I represent disabled persons in my district planning committee. For the first time, our voices are being heard in decisions that affect our lives."
"PNG ADP gave me the platform to advocate for accessible education. My daughter, who uses a wheelchair, was turned away from three schools. Through PNG ADP's support and advocacy, she is now enrolled and thriving. No parent should have to fight this hard — and PNG ADP is working to make sure they won't have to."
"As a young woman who is Deaf, I faced barriers everywhere — in education, healthcare, and even in my own family. PNG ADP's Women with Disabilities programme connected me with mentors and training that changed my life. I now run my own small business and mentor other young disabled women. We are not helpless — we just need the doors to be opened."
Our Partners & Affiliations
PNG ADP works alongside national and international partners committed to disability inclusion
Agencies
Forum
Disability Alliance
International
Common Questions About PNG ADP
Whether you're a person with a disability, a family member, a potential partner, or a government representative — here are answers to the questions we hear most often.
Who can become a member of PNG ADP?
PNG ADP membership is open to all persons with disabilities in Papua New Guinea, as well as organisations of and for persons with disabilities. We welcome individuals across all disability types — physical, sensory, intellectual, psychosocial, and multiple disabilities — regardless of age, gender, province, or cultural background. Family members and allies can also engage with PNG ADP through associate membership and partnership pathways. Our strength comes from the breadth and diversity of our membership.
How is PNG ADP different from other disability organisations in PNG?
PNG ADP is the national cross-disability umbrella organisation — meaning we represent persons with ALL types of disabilities under one unified advocacy body. Unlike service-delivery organisations or impairment-specific groups, PNG ADP's primary role is rights-based advocacy, policy engagement, and strengthening the collective voice of the disability community. We are led BY persons with disabilities, not FOR them. This self-representation principle is fundamental to our identity and our effectiveness.
How can I support PNG ADP's work if I'm not a person with a disability?
Allies play a vital role in the disability rights movement. You can support PNG ADP by: amplifying our messages and advocacy positions; engaging your own organisation or workplace in disability inclusion efforts; supporting policy reforms we advocate for; contributing technical expertise or resources; partnering with us on inclusive development programs; or simply challenging discrimination and exclusion when you encounter it. Contact us to discuss how your support can make the greatest impact.
How does PNG ADP engage with the PNG Government?
We maintain constructive but firm engagement with all levels of government. This includes formal participation in government consultations and policy development processes, direct advocacy meetings with parliamentarians and department heads, submission of position papers and policy recommendations, participation in national planning processes, and monitoring of government compliance with disability rights commitments. We believe in engagement that is respectful, evidence-based, and uncompromising on rights.
Is PNG ADP connected to international disability organisations?
Yes. PNG ADP is a member of the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) and engages with the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the United Nations system, and various international development partners. These connections allow us to bring global best practices and resources to PNG, while ensuring that PNG's disability voices contribute to regional and international policy frameworks. We also participate in the monitoring of international conventions and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a disability lens.
How can my organisation partner with PNG ADP?
We welcome partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, development partners, academic institutions, and private sector organisations that are genuinely committed to disability inclusion. Partnerships can take many forms — from joint programme implementation and technical support to research collaboration and funding partnerships. We ask that all partners commit to the principle of meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of partnership activities. Please reach out through our contact form to start a conversation about partnership opportunities.
Contact the PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons
Whether you need information, want to become a member, explore a partnership, or simply learn more about disability rights in PNG — we want to hear from you. Every inquiry is welcome and every voice matters.
Contact Us
PNG ADP is here to connect with persons with disabilities, families, partner organisations, government representatives, researchers, and anyone committed to building an inclusive Papua New Guinea. Don't hesitate to reach out — your message is important to us.
Kina Group Building
Port Moresby, National Capital District
Papua New Guinea
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Send Us a Message
Fill out the form below and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible. All fields help us direct your inquiry to the right person.
The Time for Inclusive PNG is Now
Every day that disability inclusion is delayed is another day that hundreds of thousands of Papua New Guineans are denied their fundamental rights. PNG ADP is building the movement that will change this — but we cannot do it alone. Whether you join as a member, partner with us, or simply share our message — your action matters. The future of disability rights in PNG is being written right now. Be part of it.