HAD (formerly Harrow Association of Disabled people) originated in 1972, a small grass roots organisation, which recognised that Disabled people in Harrow had no overall organisation to go to and there was no ‘umbrella’ organisation in Harrow drawing together all the impairment specific groups.

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Gladys Janes MBE and a small group of disabled people, felt the need for such a service to support Disabled people when claiming welfare benefits.

There were at the time, several local organisations to support people with mental health needs and a couple of national organisations which offered some kind of support to people who were Deaf or hard of hearing, or who had visual impairments or were blind. However, there was no generic group for people with physical impairments, and the world at this time was extremely inaccessible to this group. HAD is a pan impairment organisation.

HAD started to gradually be funded by the local statutory sector to provide services, and the range available has changed, generally expanding over the years.

In 2000, HAD became a Company Ltd by Guarantee and a Registered charity, and has been so ever since. Over time, HAD had built a reputation with local people and professionals.

OUR MISSION
To promote and bring about inclusion and equality for all Disabled people in all areas of life by:

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Ensuring that Disabled people have access to relevant information, advice and support from HAD

Delivering high quality services that empower and enable disabled people to have the freedom of choice, access their rights to live independently and gain equality

Providing a channel and voice for Disabled people to campaign on the issues they identify as important

Influencing and assisting wider society to remove all physical and attitudinal barriers that cause exclusion and disadvantage to Disabled people

Be pro-active in bringing for consultation, to Disabled people’s attention, any issues which may affect them in the future