Latin American Network of Non-Governmental Organizations of Persons With Disabilities and their Families (RIADIS)

RIADIS is the Latin American Network of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and their Families, was founded on October 17, 2002, during the First Conference in Caracas, Venezuela; got its legal status as an Organization of Law in Sao Paulo - Brazil on September 10, 2008; currently the head office of RIADIS is located in the city of Quito - Ecuador since November 2012 and operates legally under a Basic Operating Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ecuador and RIADIS.

Today, RIADIS represents 56 organisations, 39 full members and 17 collaborators, of people living with different types of disabilities in 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. We currently work to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean, through the values of non-discrimination and inclusive development for the improvement of the quality of life and social inclusion of persons with disabilities and their families.

Its character as a democratic regional network builds a strong bond of cooperation between national organisations. These organisations, while developing independently in their countries, choose to collaborate through RIADIS to produce and exchange good practices, knowledge and skills in order to enhance progress in the region. In addition, its main role is to represent its members in international forums such as the UN, the OAS and the IDA, among others, always with the commitment to make the voices of persons with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean heard, which are many, varied, and resonant.

RIADIS is guided by the principles of solidarity, independence, impartiality, accountability, ethics, transparency, respect for human diversity and democracy, and is the Lead Member of the Latin American Region of the International Disability Alliance.