About Forum of Rehabilitation for the Disabled
Founded by survivors for survivors, registered under VSWA Ordinance 1961 with the Azad Jammu & Kashmir Council Secretariat.
Historical Genesis: The 2005 Kashmir Earthquake
On the morning of October 8, 2005, northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir experienced one of the most violent seismic disasters in modern South Asian history. District Bagh was situated squarely in the earthquake's catastrophic impact zone.
Thousands of survivors suffered traumatic spinal cord injuries, complex fractures, and severe amputations. During prolonged rehabilitation at NIRM and AFIRM in Islamabad, survivor Aqeel Haider Banday brought patients and families together to establish a permanent platform. They recognized that while international relief operations would eventually withdraw, the lifelong challenges of living with physical disabilities in Kashmir's steep mountain terrain required permanent local leadership.
In 2010, the organization was formally registered with the Azad Jammu & Kashmir Council Secretariat under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (VSWA) Ordinance, 1961 of Pakistan and the VSWA Act, 1982.
Aqeel Haider Banday
Founder & President
"When I was injured in 2005, the world felt like it had collapsed around me. But lying in the rehabilitation ward, we discovered our collective voice. Disabled people do not need pity; we need equal opportunities, accessible streets, and the dignity to earn our own bread."
Our 7 Core Objectives
DPO Operational Efficiency
Equipping the organization with technical tools, leadership training, and international standards to advocate for disability rights effectively.
Medical Care & Assistive Devices
Delivering quality clinical therapy, active wheelchairs, pressure-relieving cushions, and mobility aids directly to low-income PWDs.
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Independence
Training newly injured individuals in bowel/bladder routines, home accessibility modifications, and self-care autonomy.
Accessibility & Accommodations
Auditing and advocating for ramps, wide doors, and universal architectural design in schools, banks, courts, and civic infrastructure.
Inclusive Communication
Promoting sign-language interpretation, Braille materials, and accessible web standards across government portals.
Unhiding PWDs in Rural Communities
Bringing homebound individuals out of isolation through field visits, social interaction camps, and community sports.
Grassroots Awareness & De-stigmatization
Engaging religious leaders, village heads, and teachers to eradicate fatalistic attitudes and champion disability rights as human rights.
Multidisciplinary Governance
FORD operates under a formal constitution with an elected governing body. To ensure medical rigor and holistic rehabilitation, our advisory committee includes orthopedic surgeons, physiotherapists, disability rights lawyers, and community social workers.
Official Registration No: VSWA Ordinance 1961 • AJK Council Secretariat, Islamabad