Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) is a development organization working on disability issues focusing on integrating disability in mainstream development since 1996. CDD provides human resource development support and technical assistance to development partners to systematically address the needs of persons with disability around the country. Currently CDD is in direct contact with over 300 development organizations working with disability issues in 52 districts in Bangladesh.

CDD offers a number of training courses each year to cover the versatile issues concerned with disability. Surpassing the national territory, CDD has established linkages and partnerships with the individuals and organizations working for persons with disabilities worldwide.

The fundamental objectives of CDD’s training courses are to build an organisation’s capacity on: (a) Development, implementation and management of activities addressing disability issues. (b) Creation of awareness, positive attitudes and disability-friendly environment. (c) Provision of primary therapeutic services and establishment of referral links. The courses are:

1. CAHD Orientation: Programme Design, Implementation and Management (PDIM) for Managers

2. Social Communication on Handicap and Disability (SCHD): Social Communicator

3. Community Handicap and Disability Resource Person (CHDRP)

Some advanced and needs-based training courses, conferences, seminars, information and training materials, technical and programme follow-up, monitoring and networking support are also given to supplement the initial training received.

Through training programs and community level sensitization activities, CDD tends to shift and terminate charity based community attitudes towards disability, and induces right based social mobilization.

CDD puts this into practice by:

1. Co-ordinating with around 300 partner organizations in 52 districts, working from the urban streets to the remotest localities of the country,
2. Providing training for more than 11,000 people on disability services, rehabilitation, assistive devices and awareness and inclusion related social issues,
3. Providing disability orientation to government social service officers and journalists,
4. Providing orientation to International participants about disability issues and status in Bangladesh and by keeping regular updated information exchange,
5. Developing a standard sign supported Bangla for the persons with hearing impairment,
6. Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in accordance with the Disability Welfare Act, 2001
7. Promoting mainstream inclusive education for children with disabilities,
8. Developing resource materials on disability issues
9. Developing software for Bangla text to Braille and Braille to text for persons with a visual impairment
10. Producing standard quality assistive devices for the people with physical disability, and
11. Developing and implementing Community Approaches to Handicap in Development (CAHD) - a strategic plan to form an inclusive community by integrating disability issues into mainstream development activities.

Hence, this way, through all these training programs, awakening activities, social mobilizations and sensitization, CDD continues its attempt to bring hope, dignity and meaning to the lives of the millions with disability in Bangladesh.