ABOUT

"Run and managed by Disabled people for Disabled people."

OUR STORY

Harrow Association of Disabled people originated in 1972, a small grass roots organisation, which recognised that disabled people in Harrow had no overall organisation to go to and there was no ‘umbrella’ organisation in Harrow drawing together all the impairment specific groups. There was a great initial focus on welfare benefits. 

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Gladys Janes MBE and a small group of Disabled people, felt the need for such a service to support Disabled people when claiming the welfare benefits that they desired.

 

There were at the time, several local organisations to support people with mental health needs and a couple of national organisations which offered some kind of support to people who were Deaf or hard of hearing, or who had visual impairments or were blind. However, there was no generic group for people with physical limitations, and the world at this time was extremely inaccessible to this group. HAD is a pan impairment organisation.

 

HAD started to gradually be funded by the local statutory sector to provide services, and the range available has changed, generally expanding over the years.   

 

In 2000, HAD became a Company Ltd by Guarantee and a Registered charity, and has been so ever since.  Over time, HAD had built a reputation with local people and professionals.

OUR MISSION

To promote and bring about inclusion and equality for all disabled people in all areas of life by:

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  • Ensuring that they have access to relevant information, advice and support from HAD

  • Delivering high quality services that empower and enable disabled people to have the freedom of choice, access their rights to live independently and gain equality

  • Providing a channel and voice for disabled people to campaign on the issues they identify as important

  • Influencing and assisting wider society to remove all physical and attitudinal barriers that cause exclusion and disadvantage to disabled people

  • Be pro-active in bringing for consultation, to disabled people’s attention, any issues which may affect them in the future

OUR TRUSTEES

Harrow Association of Disabled people is a User Led Organisation (ULO), which means that the majority of board members are disabled people. The board is responsible for leading HAD's strategy and development and the board members are all elected from HAD's membership. 

Current Board Members

Julie Browne - Chair

Adam Gabsi - Vice-Chair

Gladys Janes

Janet Bell

Elizabeth Hugo

Marcia Antony

Dr. Jagdish Dave

Susanne Dalfoss

Haresh Puvanagopan

Councillor Krishna Suresh

Councillor Jean Lammiman

Co-opted Members

Stuart Dashwood

Tom Somerville - Staff Representative 

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Harrow Council Representatives

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Councillor Ghazanfar Ali