Who We Are

A Proud History

The Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities came into existence in 1973 when a group of people with disabilities decided they wanted to speak in a unified voice. Originally called the Alberta Committee of Action Groups for the Disabled, the organization has gone through three name changes: The Alberta Committee of Consumer Groups of Disabled Persons (1982), The Alberta Committee of Disabled Citizens (1986), and The Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities. The society is best known as ACCD.

For over 35 years, ACCD has been Alberta's only provincial, cross-disability organization of and for people living with physical, mental, sensory, learning, or developmental disabilities. We remain a grassroots, consumer-directed organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities.

ACCD has been a part of many positive changes in Alberta. We have helped bring about a variety of services and programs designed to assist people with disabilities to participate fully in the community and be equal partners in society.

For example, since 1979 we have made an on-going commitment to raise awareness about the importance of the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program. In 2005, we were pleased to see the government implement many of our suggestions for improving this vital program.

ACCD has been a leader in the growing disability movement. All over Alberta, people with disabilities are making their voices heard in increasing numbers. ACCD has been proud to be a part of this consumer-directed movement.