The Include Us advocacy project in Nepal, led by the National Federation for the Disabled Nepal (NFDN), has driven significant change in disability inclusion over the past five years. The project focused on improving national and local government policies and access to services for people with disabilities. Key successes include the development and passing of a National Disability Policy, the inclusion of disability data in the 2021 National Census, and an improved understanding of barriers to accessing justice for people with disabilities through research conducted with the National Human Rights Commission. The project also supported OPD operations and advocacy efforts, training and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, and was one of the few projects that included digital accessibility alongside other accessibility needs.
By combining national level policy influence with local level advocacy, the project made a notable mark on addressing barriers to justice for people with disabilities and created a ripple effect among government departments and services to improve accessibility. The summary provides valuable lessons for future advocacy projects to take note of.