First, all of us know many physically challenged persons who, through no fault of their own, are not living very full or productive lives. Many of those people lack the physical stamina and know-how to seek and hold a job in the competitive labor market.  They need the knowledge that they are entitled to education, rehabilitation and encouragement. Sometimes they only need a little knowledge to obtain the things that will help them with that productivity.

There is much that needs to be done for and by the physically challenged. We feel that group action in the name of a national organization has an important place in every community. We believe that, the adult physically challenged person who is seeking an outlet for his/her desire to be of service to his/her fellow physically challenged and to his/her community, will find his/her opportunity, within the broad organizational structure of NAPH.

Much of NAPH’s program is carried on at the local chapter level. To this end we are seeking to expand our membership and chapters by encouraging the formation of local groups (chapters) in communities where we are not now represented.

We are well aware of all the good programs now in effect in the interest of the physically challenged. We are aware that many physically challenged persons have made outstanding contributions to their families, their communities and to the economic and social welfare of the nation.

We want the good things in life for more of our physically challenged citizens. There is a great potential for progress among our millions of unorganized physically challenged. Not nearly all of our severely physically challenged are being served by existing agencies as the language of our laws would indicate that they have a right to expect. We do not claim to have the funds to assist, but through organizing can cause recognition to the needs to happen more readily.

NAPH does not imply that our organization will fill the gaps at this time. We offer an opportunity for the physically challenged people to organize and promote needed reforms. Each community has a variety of needs for the physically challenged, and each of our chapters have it’s own agenda for local problems and work nationally for other problems and agendas.

Whether we like it or not, we should accept the reality of the fact that the hardcore of the unrehabilitated and the unemployed are to be moved onto the production line, action must come largely through government at all levels. Reforms which will change conditions will come through legislative action such as the A.D.A. To influence  legislative bodies, you must create public opinion which is the basis of political pressure, and that is about the only pressure that is recognized by government bodies, local, state or national. 

NAPH is ready to lease, under certain conditions, our name, our broad program, any prestige we may have developed, a place in our growing family of chapters. To lease to groups who indicate a serious desire to become a part of a national movement to convince physically challenged persons that they must provide the leadership to seek equitable opportunities for the physically challenged. To create a more favorable public and employer attitude towards hiring of qualified physically challenged workers. There has to be a local agency to police those that ignore the A.D.A.  

Membership in NAPH offers a challenging opportunity for the aggressive self-starter to join a growing organization of and for the physically challenged. It offers encouragement to those of the challenged community who need our help and counsel. It offers full membership to our non-challenged relatives, friends and co-workers.

We hope you will join the people who have found membership in NAPH to be stimulating and helpful.

NAPH is an organization of physically challenged and non-challenged adults trying to bring about awareness of the needs of the physically challenged community.  The information below will explain the goals and purpose of the NAPH Organization.

To give you a brief look at the NAPH Organization – NAPH is an organization trying to make the public aware of the needs of the physically challenged, and supports Legislation to benefit the physically challenged community in areas such as employment, housing, transportation, a barrier free society, etc. The Purpose of NAPH is to “Advance the Social, Economic and Physical Welfare of the physically challenged community in the United States of America”. To be eligible for membership, persons need to be adult citizens of the U.S. and over 18 years of age. Persons joining under the age of 18 are known as “Junior Members”, and have no voting rights. Membership consists of belonging to a Chapter or joining as a member-at-large (MAL). 60% of the governing body must be physically challenged. Membership MUST be individual, no group or organizations.

A Membership-At-Large is primarily for persons interested in joining NAPH, in locations where no chapters are in existence at this time. Membership Dues are $10.00 per year. A MAL is entitled to receive all NAPH mailings sent to the membership, NAPH NATIONAL NEWSLETTER ( NNN ), Calls to meetings and conventions, and any mailing concerning betterment of the physically challenged community. Each summer NAPH holds a National Convention, hosted by chapters in their community. If interested in more information regarding the next convention, check out our web page, NAPH.NET.

NAPH is supported mainly by Membership Dues and Donations, and is operated by its members and Officers. It was founded in 1958, incorporated in the State of Michigan. The largest percentage of chapters are located in Michigan. We have chapters in California and Ohio, and Members-at-large all over the U.S. as well. Our Membership & Organizational committee is working on promotions to form more new chapters in other locations. NAPH is always anxious to start new chapters. Membership is open to any person, physically challenged or not, who is interested in the advancement of the physically challenged community. NAPH is the only National Organization with membership open to all types disabilities, invisible as well as visible challenges, including blind and deaf.
 
NAPH is a non-profit, working organization. It is a voluntary, independent, self-help action group. The activities range from social, to legislation (as mentioned above), to encouraging conditions for employment of the physically challenged. Other committees include Membership, Transportation, Housing, Awards, Ways and Means, etc. One of our biggest projects has been called Barrier free design, then rolled into promoting the A.D.A. (Americans with Disabilities Act), and now promoting Visitability.
NAPH publishes a Newsletter, THE NNN, three times per year.

Respectfully,

Saginaw Valley state University has picked Grab-A-Cane as one of the inventions to be represented at Inventions to Market Day on May 15th 2009. The inventor is physically handicapped from birth and has never let that slight inconvenience stop him from living life to the fullest. Grab-A-Cane will be built by the handicapped. The inventor hopes to someday set up a nonprofit organization in order to send children born with Holt Oram syndrome to college.