Existing Disability Organizations
Organizations directly representing or serving persons living with disabilities.
Partners
Working Together for a More Inclusive Antigua and Barbuda
The Ability Foundation is an advocacy, casework, policy, research and coordination organization. We work alongside others — we do not work in place of them.
Collaboration without absorption.
Partnership without loss of independence.
The Ability Foundation recognizes that disability advocacy in Antigua and Barbuda did not begin with us.
Existing disability organizations, advocates, families and individuals have worked for many years to advance the rights, opportunities and wellbeing of persons living with disabilities.
Our objective is not to replace that work.
We seek to strengthen it.
Where our missions overlap, the Foundation welcomes opportunities to share knowledge, refer individuals appropriately, develop joint programs, coordinate funding initiatives and advocate collectively for systemic change.
Every partner organization retains its own identity, governance, mission and independence.
Who we work with
Partner categories
These are the kinds of organizations and professionals we hope to work with. No specific organization is presented here as an official partner unless a partnership has actually been agreed.
Referral Partners
Organizations that may receive or make referrals for appropriate services.
Healthcare & Professional Partners
Professionals whose expertise can strengthen advocacy, assessment and support.
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Psychologists
- Therapists
- Attorneys
- Researchers
- Accessibility professionals
- Other relevant professionals
Corporate Partners
Businesses interested in:
- CSR
- Program funding
- Equipment sponsorship
- Utility assistance
- Transportation
- Employment opportunities
- Technology
- Accessible infrastructure
Community Organizations
Local groups close to families and caregivers.
- Churches
- Community groups
- Service organizations
- Caregiver networks
- Youth organizations
- Other NGOs
Research & Policy Partners
Institutions that help build evidence and shape policy.
- Universities
- Researchers
- Policy institutes
- Regional organizations
- International organizations
- Disability researchers
Government & Public Institutions
Public bodies whose decisions shape daily life for persons with disabilities.
- Government ministries
- Statutory bodies
- Public agencies
- Healthcare institutions
- Social-protection agencies
- Utility providers
- Transport institutions
- Other appropriate public bodies
Partnership does not mean automatic access to member information.
No member's Ability Account, Ability Support Profile, Ability Needs Assessment, advocacy case, medical information or personal circumstances may be shared with a partner organization without appropriate authorization and a legitimate purpose.
Referral philosophy
The right help, from the right organization
The Ability Foundation may receive requests that another organization is better equipped to handle. Where appropriate, the Foundation should be able to refer a person to another organization.
Likewise, partner organizations may refer people to the Foundation. No personal information may be shared with a partner without appropriate authorization.
Partners may refer people to the Foundation for
- Advocacy
- Complex casework
- Policy-related problems
- Disability-income issues
- Utility hardship
- Equipment needs
- Government-system navigation
- Accessibility problems
- Research participation where separately consented
- Policy reform
Stronger policy through collective voice
Joint advocacy
Some problems are larger than any one organization.
Where disability organizations share common concerns, The Ability Foundation supports joint advocacy, coordinated policy submissions and collaborative public education.
A recommendation supported by multiple disability-sector organizations carries a different weight from an isolated complaint.
The Foundation therefore welcomes opportunities to support collective policy positions while respecting the independence of every participating organization.
Building programs together
Joint projects & funding
Organizations may choose to collaborate on shared goals. These are areas where joint work is possible; they describe opportunities, not partnerships that already exist.
- Mobility programs
- Equipment distribution
- Transportation access
- Disability household support
- Utilities assistance
- Healthcare access
- Employment initiatives
- Public education
- Accessibility projects
- Research
- Policy development
- Corporate sponsorship
- Grant-funded projects
Where appropriate, the Foundation may provide
- Research
- Data
- Program design
- Case coordination
- Grant writing
- Administration
- Monitoring
- Policy analysis
- Impact reporting
Other organizations would provide complementary expertise or direct services.
Future initiative
Antigua & Barbuda Disability Policy Forum
ConceptThis is a concept, not an existing body. The Forum would not be another umbrella organization controlling existing groups. It would be a collaborative policy space where independent organizations and stakeholders can discuss:
- Disability Act implementation
- Income support
- Utilities
- Accessibility
- Transportation
- Healthcare
- Employment
- Education
- Equipment
- Caregiver support
- Research
- National disability priorities
The Ability Foundation may eventually provide research, convening or secretariat support.
Future capability
Partner Organization Portal
PlannedPartner organization portal — planned. A future secure partner portal may allow approved organizations to:
- Maintain an organization profile
- Describe services
- Define eligibility
- Receive authorized referrals
- Send referrals
- Track agreed referral status
- Participate in joint initiatives
- Access shared non-confidential resources
Partner accounts do not exist yet. Partner organizations will not have access to complete Ability Accounts, and will not have access to private cases or assessments by default. Any future access will always be scoped and authorized.
Future capability
National Disability Services Directory
PlannedWe are preparing for a national directory to help people find services across Antigua and Barbuda. It is not yet published. Future service categories may include:
- Disability advocacy
- Healthcare
- Wheelchairs and mobility equipment
- Transportation
- Food assistance
- Housing
- Utilities
- Legal services
- Employment
- Education
- Counselling
- Caregiver support
- Assistive technology
- Financial support
- Government programs
The directory will be populated only with verified information. No organizations or services are listed until they have been confirmed.
Get in touch
Become a partner
If your organization or practice would like to explore working with the Foundation, tell us a little about it. Sending an inquiry does not create a partnership.
Please do not submit information about any individual member or person through this form.