Partnerships & Referral Networks
When it comes to creating programs that fully include people with disabilities, no one expects every organization to be an expert overnight. Instead, the key lies in teamwork, connecting with the right people and groups who have adequate knowledge about disability inclusion. Â
Partnerships and Referral Networks
When it comes to creating programs that fully include people with disabilities, no one expects every organization to be an expert overnight. Instead, the key lies in teamwork, connecting with the right people and groups who have adequate knowledge about disability inclusion. Â
Why Partnerships Matter
 Disability inclusion is not a standalone effort; it requires collaboration among key stakeholders. Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), disability expert organizations, disability-related service providers and community-based groups (CBOs) all play a critical role in ensuring that people with disabilities are meaningfully included at every stage of the program cycle. These partnerships are not merely beneficial, they are essential for achieving sustainable and impactful inclusion.
Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) are organizations led by people with disabilities. They know the challenges faced by their communities firsthand and are experts in advocating for policy change. Disability expert organizations bring technical know-how and offer training sessions or hands-on coaching to put inclusion into practice.
In the We Can Work program, we have set up a network of Disability Inclusion Advisors (DIAs) and Facilitators (DIFs), who usually have disabilities themselves, putting them in a position to utilize their lived experience on disability as well as the technical training they receive to better guide mainstream actors on inclusion.
Referral Networks
Sometimes, inclusion means knowing when to refer. Not every program can provide everything – like rehabilitation services or specialized assistive devices. That is where referral networks come in. Picture a web of connections linking programs to disability-specific service providers, rehabilitation centers, or even other community resources.
Building these networks starts with mapping out who is out there. Are there local OPDs or disability-related service providers (e.g., sign language interpretation services, mental health support, accessible rehabilitation/ health centers) in the area? Have we talked to them? The We Can Work program encourages this from the identification phase, making sure programs know who to call on when extra support is needed.Â
Budgeting
Establishing these partnerships and referral networks will require budget allocation. Programs are encouraged to tag specific activities and budget lines for partnership-related costs. These may include mapping and collaborating with OPDs and disability-focused organizations, as well as establishing partnerships with disability-related service providers such as rehabilitation and mental health services, braille printing services, and providers of assistive technology/devices. We recommends setting aside 9% of your disability inclusion budget to partnership-related costs.Â