Disability Organisations Joint Front
(D.O.J.F.)

Founded in June 2001, the Disability Organization Joint Front (DOJF) is the first and only umbrella body for disability organizations in Sri Lanka.  DOJF aims to enable disability organizations to work jointly as a pressure group to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring them a free and independent  life.  There are at present 18 member organizations from various parts of the country.  These organizations represent people with physical, intellectual, visual and hearing disabilities.

The DOJF envisages a society where people with disabilities can realize and exercise their rights and where they are recognized as equal citizens of the country.

People with disabilities throughout Sri Lanka continue to face barriers which prevent them from participating as equal members of society.  Disabled children are often denied access to education, and adults denied access to training and employment opportunities.  This makes it very difficult for people with disabilities to have equal opportunities to realize their potential.

As a cohesive movement, the DOJF and its member organizations are in a  stronger position to influence policy and to address the issues that have marginalized disabled  people and excluded them from mainstream society.  

Vision
A society which enjoys equal rights through the combined strength of Disability Organisations.

Mission
While recognizing the individual identity of organisations ‘of’ and ‘for’ Persons with Disabilities, to work in close cooperation with organisations to achieving common objectives which are otherwise difficult to be handled by those organisations independently.

Aim
Disability organisations to work jointly as a pressure group to protect rights of the Persons with Disabilities ensuring them a free and independent life.

Objectives

1. To Mobilize the Disability organisations into an effective movement.
2. Changing attitudes of disabled and non disabled people and their organisations.
3. To activate the implementation of provisions laid down in Act No. 28 of 1996 for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to lobby for making appropriate amendments therein.
4. To motivate the state and private media to disseminate accurate national and international information frequently to the community in regard to Persons with Disabilities.
5. To lobby for repeal or amend all rules and regulations which are discriminatory or restrictive to Persons with Disabilities and new legislation where necessary.
6. To work for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the national decision making process.
7. Accessibility facilities to be made available to all sectors of disability in all respects including access to the built environment, information, education, employment, income generation and sports and recreation.
8. To lobby for the sign language to be accepted as a recognized language and to take appropriate action  for its propagation.
9. To take appropriate measures to set up homes for those who are severely disabled and cannot be rehabilitated in the community.
10. To take appropriate measures in collaboration with government and non governmental organisations to identify the requirements of Persons with Special Needs (intellectual disability) and to launch programmes for their development.
11. To take appropriate measures to ensure adequate representation of women with disabilities in all national forums.

Member Organizations

• Association of Women with Disabilities,  Thalawa, Anuradhapura
•  Association of Parents of Deaf Children,    Moratuwa
• Sri Lanka Council for the Blind,    Colombo 2
• Sri Lanka Central Federation of the Deaf,  Tudella, Ja-ela
•  Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped, Colombo 2
•  Matugama Social Services Society Ltd.   Matugama
• Sri Lanka Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Maligawatte
• Sri Lanka National Federation of the Visually Handicapped, Narahenpita
• The Ceylon Association for the Mentally  Retarded, Mt. Lavinia.
• National Forum of Visually Handicapped Women, Colombo 2
• Parents Teachers Organisation of the Mentally –Handicapped in Kalutara District,
  Waskaduwa,
• Kalutara District Organisation of the Disabled, Horana
• Special Educational Services Society,   Blind and Deaf School, Tangalle.
• Central Council of Disabled Persons,  Bandarawela
• Organization for Rehabilitation of the Handicapped (ORHAN) Vavuniya
• Spinal Injuries Association of Sri Lanka, Ragama
• Saviya Development Foundation, Galle
• Special Education Development Organization, Monaragala

Action Plan 2005/2006

To collect and disseminate disability related information and provide advice on disability related issues

1. Development of well-equipped disability information and resource centre
2. Development of information literature
3. Website development to promote disability information dissemination
4. Provision of information and advice

To raise awareness and change negative attitudes associated with disability and persons with disability

1. Development of ongoing disability awareness and advocacy programmes through member organisations and others
2. Influencing media to address disability issues
3. Publication and distribution of disability newsletter “Atha Hitha”

To advocate for legislation which will prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in gaining access to the built environment, ommunication/information, employment and training, education, health and social care, housing and sports and recreation

DOJF is represented on the following committee
National Council for Persons with Disabilities;  and participated in:
Drafting of National Disability Policy
Drafting of Disability Rights Bill

To increase the impact of our work through active networking and collaboration at a national, regional and international level

1. Networking with member organisations
2. Representation on National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD)
3. Collaborating with Motivation Sri Lanka, The Management Club (TMC) and Employers Federation of Ceylon, ITDG
4. Increase membership of DOJF
5. Networking and collaboration with

   UNESCAP, DPI, APCD and similar umbrella organisations internationally

To promote the human resource development of personnel working in disability organisations

1. Capacity building of member organisations through training and development programme
2. Further development of DOJF training and development unit
3. Development of a range of courses and workshops appropriate to disability organisations.
4. Strengthening of resource persons from within the DOJF member organisations

WHAT DOJF CAN OFFER MEMBERS

Address Common Problems Faced by Disabled People (eg. Education, employment etc. )
Capacity Building Support
Training
Information and Advice
Access to other networks
Increased representation for member organisations at all levels

We are a member organisation of “Access for All”

The General Secretary is a working member of National Council for people with Disability.

Contact Us

#368, Galle Road,
Ratmalana, Sri Lanka.
Telephone : +(94) 112 721383
Email : dojf@sltnet.lk
Web : www.dojf.org