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.