1. Human Rights Advocacy
Since its foundation, NAB has made significant contributions to strengthening the rights of persons with disabilities in Nepal through sustained policy and rights-based advocacy. Its advocacy contributed to the constitutional recognition of the right of persons with visual disabilities to education through Braille under Article 31(4) of the Constitution of Nepal. NAB has also contributed to securing customs exemptions for assistive devices, 50% income tax exemptions, and employment reservations in government services. In collaboration with other OPDs, NAB contributed to Nepal’s ratification of the UNCRPD, enactment of the Act Relating to Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2017, and formulation of the National Disability Policy 2023. More recently, its advocacy contributed to Nepal Rastra Bank’s directive on accessible banking and the introduction of tactile markings on the NPR 500 banknote. NAB has also contributed to securing government resources for computer education, women’s hostel and vocational training, as well as provincial budget allocations for accessible infrastructure and audio library services.
2. Organizational Development
NAB has strengthened its institutional capacity, accessibility, governance, and organizational sustainability. It has established an accessible central office with audio guidance and sound cues, a wheelchair-accessible ramp, and an accessible toilet. NAB owns 18 buildings across Nepal and has achieved approximately 30% self-sustainability through income generation that contributes to its operational costs. The organization has also established a digital membership database system, developed and implemented organizational policies, guidelines, and procedures, and introduced digital attendance and online timesheets. These initiatives have strengthened organizational systems, accountability, knowledge management, and efficient and inclusive operations.
3. Health and Rehabilitation
Since 1999, NAB has been implementing community-based rehabilitation services, reaching 5,187,650 people through door-to-door disability household surveys. The program has identified 48,502 people with curable blindness and 15,288 people with incurable visual impairment and provided eye screening to 163,558 people. NAB has facilitated 23,955 free cataract surgeries and referred approximately 5,000 people with other eye conditions to specialized eye hospitals. In addition, 12,840 persons with incurable visual impairment have received rehabilitation support, including counselling, orientation and mobility, life-skills training, referrals and assistive-device support, contributing to greater independence and improved quality of life.
4. Inclusive Education
NAB has contributed significantly to improving access to accessible and quality education for blind and partially sighted learners from school through university. It provides Braille textbooks for Grades 1–12 nationwide in partnership with the Department of Education and has worked with 23 schools to strengthen resource classes to date. Over the period of 26 years, 500 visually impaired children have accessed school education and 200 have accessed university education. NAB has also contributed to the adoption of government guidelines on caregiver training, ICT training for visually impaired teachers, and orientation and mobility. NAB also has initiated resource classes for children with visual impairment and deaf blindness. Three resource classes for visually impaired children are now operating at Gurujajur Secondary School in Dang, Narayani Secondary School in Chitwan, and Janata Secondary School in Bardibas. In addition, one resource class for children with deafblindness is operating at Shanti Namuna Secondary School in Rupandehi. These schools are under the ownership of the government of Nepal.
5. Economic Empowerment
NAB has made significant contributions to the livelihood and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities through vocational skills training, employment preparation, entrepreneurship development, career counselling, and start-up support. To date, NAB has provided skills-based vocational training to 6,250 persons with visual impairments, while 4,000 persons have received start-up support and are engaged in self-employment. NAB’s advocacy has also contributed to the recognition and implementation of the 5% reservation for persons with disabilities in civil service employment, along with support to visually impaired candidates to access opportunities through the Public Service Commission and Teacher Service Commission. These efforts have contributed to approximately 700 persons with visual impairments currently being employed in government services.
6. Protection and Social Inclusion
NAB has strengthened protection and social inclusion by documenting human rights violations against persons with disabilities and using this evidence to support advocacy and access to justice. It has built the capacity of judicial bodies and relevant stakeholders on disability rights and needs and established a Safeguarding Policy to promote safe and respectful program environments. Safeguarding orientations are provided to participants before trainings and other activities, including information on expected conduct, reporting procedures, and complaint mechanisms. Through its rehabilitation program, NAB also provides door-to-door counselling and support to persons with disabilities and their families, helping identify individual needs, provide psychosocial and practical support, link individuals with relevant services, and strengthen their participation within their families and communities.