Fostering inclusion through evidence and empowerment
About
Our Profile
Our Profile
We are the Asian Institute of Disability and Development (AIDD), University Of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Disability-inclusive development promotes the involvement and agency of people with disability in all national and international development initiatives, with the ultimate aim of equitable development outcomes for all.
​
Asian Institute of Disability and Development (AIDD) is an academic research institute on disability based at the University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh. AIDD is a hub for spearheading disability-inclusive development to help improve the lives of people with disabilities, and those of their families and their communities around the world.
Since its inception in 2012, AIDD has been involved in research, capacity building, advocacy, and collaboration with national and international NGOs, tertiary education organizations both nationally and internationally. Within a span of five years this coalition has been able to establish its credibility in the region by serving as a regional hub for research, training, generation and dissemination of evidence for disability to guide effective and inclusive program development and services.
The work of AIDD is primarily focused on organization and implementation of a comprehensive integrated program on research and training, a strong emphasis is placed on translation of research outcomes into practice. We promote collaborative research agenda regarding disability and public health. AIDD provides expertise for policy makers and other stakeholders involved in disability-inclusive development. We work to increase knowledge, expertise and number of skilled personnel through training on various aspects of disability and exchange experience among academic networks around the world.
​
​
Research and Generation of Evidence
AIDD has ongoing research projects with its collaborating partners in Bangladesh and in other regional countries. Our research focuses on the burden, early diagnosis and interventions to improve quality of life of people with disabilities. AIDD research activities are implanted through its collaborating and partner organizations.
Translation research at AIDD leads to generation of high-quality scientific evidence to inform policy and service delivery. There is a lack of scientific evidence on disability in low and middle-income countries including its burden, quality of life of people with disabilities and effective measures to improve their lives. This highlights the need for high-quality scientific evidence to advocate greater commitment in terms of policy and resources towards disability-inclusive development.
​
Capacity Building, Training and Key Stakeholder Engagement
AIDD plays an active role in promoting the talent of future public health leaders of the region through training programs in collaboration with the University of South Asia School of Public Health and Life Sciences, and encouraging future disability work by means of scholarships and internships. We intend to ensure capacity building and development of our core staff through training programs to develop and utilize their potential as researchers and advocates of disability work. Short courses are conducted alongside mentoring and internship programs. The courses are designed to cater to the needs for capacity development of health professionals and service providers in disability-inclusive development.
AIDD continues to ceaselessly expand its network of collaborating organizations with shared interests on local, national, regional, and international levels by fostering new partnerships through joint program development efforts with local NGOs and research institutes, supporting key partner CSF Global in expanding its reach of rehabilitative services through collaborative ventures, development of a consortium with key national partner organizations, and by facilitating international exchange programs.