Fairer funding for organisations of persons with disabilities: a call for change

Growing up as a blind person in Guyana, I quickly learned that disability comes with many barriers.

These are not just physical, but systemic. One of the biggest challenges I have encountered in my advocacy work is how organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) struggle to access the funding they desperately need. The funding landscape is built on rigid structures that do not reflect the realities of running disability-inclusive programmes.

As programme manager of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), I know how much OPDs achieve with the limited resources at their disposal. At the GCOPD we provide a range of training, skills development and advocacy for people with disabilities, ensuring they have the tools to live independent and fulfilling lives. But our ability to continue this work is constantly threatened by funding systems that are not designed with disability inclusion in mind.

The reality of funding barriers

The biggest issue with most funding opportunities is that they come with strict and inflexible criteria. Many grants focus on general development projects without considering the unique needs of people with disabilities. OPDs frequently find themselves excluded because some parts of the application processes are too complicated, and we sometimes do not have the technical capacity to complete these applications.

Even when funding is available, there is often a lack of understanding about why disability-focused programmes cost more money. Training programmes, workshops and other initiatives for people with disabilities require additional accommodations such as:

• sign language interpreters for deaf participants
• captioning services for people  who are hard of hearing
• braille and large-print materials for blind participants
• personal assistants or mobility aids for people with physical disabilities.

These additional costs are not luxuries; they are essential for true inclusion. However, funders often compare the cost of a disability-inclusive training to a general training programme and conclude that it is too expensive. This kind of thinking devalues the experiences of people with disabilities and reinforces the systemic barriers we face.

Why flexibility is key to inclusion

One of the biggest frustrations of restrictive funding models is the lack of flexibility in budgeting. Many grants do not allow for adjustments to cover unforeseen costs. But disability inclusion is not always predictable: things change, and OPDs need room to respond.

For example, imagine organising a leadership training programme for young people with disabilities in Guyana. You plan the budget carefully then realise that some participants need support with transportation because public transport is not accessible. With a rigid budget there is no way to reallocate funds, so some participants may be unable to attend without additional financial support to cover specialised transport. This is the reality we face time and time again.

If funders truly want to support persons with disabilities, they need to:

• recognise that disability-inclusive projects have higher costs and adjust funding criteria accordingly
• create new ways of evaluating proposals from OPDs, rather than using the same tools used to evaluate proposals from mainstream civil society organisations
• allow flexible budgeting so OPDs can respond to unforeseen changes and accessibility needs
• simplify the application process so smaller OPDs can apply without needing extensive administrative capacity
• engage with OPDs to better understand the actual needs and priorities of people with disabilities.

Fighting for a fairer, more inclusive future

I continue to advocate for fairer funding because I know what OPDs are capable of when they have the right resources. With better financial support, we can provide more training, reach more people with disabilities and advocate for stronger disability rights policies.

The disability community in Guyana, like in many other countries, is full of talented, driven individuals who want to contribute to society. But without the right support, we remain locked out of opportunities. Funders have the power to change this by making their funding models more inclusive.

It is time to stop seeing OPDs as high-cost projects and start seeing them as partners in creating a fairer, more inclusive world. Fairer funding is not just about money – it is about dignity, equality and human rights.