Nelson Mandela Bay

About The APD NMB

The Association for Persons with Disabilities, Nelson Mandela Bay, also known as APD NMB, was established in 1940 and is a non-profit organisation located at 55 Paterson Road, North End, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

APD was established to promote the advancement of persons with disabilities so as to enable them to attain their maximum level of independence and integration into the community and to allow them to take their rightful place in society.

Our Background

APD Nelson Mandela Bay was established in 1940 and has a proven track record of good governance and financial accountability. All financial transactions are handled by the organisation’s accounts department and reflect in the accounting systems and financial reports. The various projects (including the Ability Work Centres) are recorded as separate cost centres in APD’s financial statements and are audited annually.

Strong financial systems and accurate budgeting enable us to provide immediate feedback to sponsors on the current status of all our projects.

The organisation is overseen by an Executive Board consisting of 8 members who meet on a monthly basis. The experience and expertise of the Exco members ensures that the organisation remains aligned to its mission and objectives.

A strong management team consisting of 10 department managers is responsible for the smooth day-to-day operation of the various projects we operate and services we provide. The management team meets monthly to discuss operational and departmental issues. Minutes of meetings and department reports are submitted for consideration at the monthly Executive meetings.

B-BBEE:

APD Nelson Mandela Bay is proud to have reaffirmed our B-BBEE Level 1 accreditation, with135% Supplier status in April, 2018.

Our projects meet the requirements of Code Series 700 of the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice and qualify as socio-economic activities. We are able to perform socio economic development initiatives, with the specific objective of facilitating sustainable access to the economy for our beneficiaries.

Any contributions directly benefit a Black Beneficiary Base of greater than 75% and our projects thus qualify for 100% B-BBEE Socio-Economic Development Recognition.

Organisational Credibility:

APD Nelson Mandela Bay was established in 1940 and has a proven track record of good governance and financial accountability. All financial transactions are handled by the organisation’s accounts department and reflect in the accounting systems and financial reports. The various projects (including the Ability Work Centres) are recorded as separate cost centres in APD’s financial statements and are audited annually.

Strong financial systems and accurate budgeting enable us to provide immediate feedback to sponsors on the current status of all our projects.

The organisation is overseen by an Executive Board consisting of 8 members who meet on a monthly basis. The experience and expertise of the Exco members ensures that the organisation remains aligned to its mission and objectives.

A strong management team consisting of 10 department managers is responsible for the smooth day-to-day operation of the various projects we operate and services we provide. The management team meets monthly to discuss operational and departmental issues. Minutes of meetings and department reports are submitted for consideration at the monthly Executive meetings.

Follow us on social media through our links below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/APDNMB

Twitter: www.twitter.com/APDNMB

APD NMB Objectives

Our vision is for Nelson Mandela Bay to be the most accessible, inclusive and disability-friendly metro in South Africa.

Our purpose is summed up in our Ability cause: Changing lives by empowering persons with disabilities. We believe that by empowering persons with disabilities in their personal capacities, they in turn become powerful catalysts for change in their immediate social circles and, in time, their communities.

APD NMB Programs

Abilitywear Work Centre:

The AbilityWear Work Centre provides basic and advanced sewing and garment-manufacturing skills training to persons with disabilities. Beneficiaries who are deemed competent after completing their twelve-month basic sewing training programme are placed in the centre’s various production lines where they are provided with income-generating work opportunities.

On-the-job skills training and knowledge transfer is ongoing in this centre. We are continually looking to identify persons with disabilities with potential to receive sewing, printing, and embroidery training. Currently we have 39 beneficiaries working in this centre who mostly come from impoverished communities in and around Nelson Mandela Bay.

The centre custom manufactures and brands a wide range of clothing apparel for local companies, government departments and some 43 schools.

Sublimation printing has recently been added to our mix of products.

We are very excited about our sublimation department and how much potential we have for growth in this area. We are currently supplying schools, clubs and any custom requests. This is a great addition to our already successful embroidery, sewing and screen printing departments.

Ability Social Services: 

Our team of social workers provide developmental and integrated services to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to a comprehensive, well organized delivery system that enhances their independence and advances their integration into mainstream society.

Our social workers provide a wide range of disability services including: Assistance with grant applications, rehabilitation services, referrals to special schools, assessments for assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs), disability sensitisation workshops in schools and local communities, facilitating APD’s employee health and wellness programmes and more.

Ability Inspire:

We inspire change by sharing the stories of the people we serve. The following are two of our many success stories.

Message from Liezl Leslie (Hearing Impairment):

“I feel proud of myself at what I’ve achieved so far as a Junior Pattern Maker. It has given my self-esteem a boost. I started working at APD in the Ability Industrial

Job Creation Centre doing basic packing and sorting work.

After a while, my manager informed me that the Ability Wear Job Creation Centre was looking for sewing trainees. Initially I was put on a production line but struggled to cope with the speed due to limited function in my hands. The Sewing Manager then asked me if I had ever considered pattern making because of my natural creativity. I was then appointed as a Junior Pattern Maker to assist APD’s qualified Senior Designer. Let’s just say the rest is history! Today I draw and grade my own patterns and assist in preparing new, custom designs. When my hard work has been acknowledged in the way that it has it excites me for the future and I continue to set new boundaries for myself and others that will follow.”

Message from Craig Meyer (Physical Disability):

“I started working at APD about 3 years ago. At the time there weren’t any available positions in the Ability Wear Job Creation Centre. However, I was determined not to give up so I arranged a meeting with the Centre Manager. A few days later she contacted me to let me know that the centre was looking for someone to manage the stores/packing department. I jumped at the opportunity! APD gave me a chance when nobody else was willing to do so. I had previously worked at several companies but never had found my “home”. At APD I learned what it is to be really happy in your work place. Here we show love and support to each other. My life has improved a lot because of APD. I want to thank my managers for the opportunity and for believing in me.”

APD NMB Events

The Eastern Cape Provincial Council for Persons with Disabilities (APDEC) is a not for profit organization affiliated constitutionally to the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD). APDEC was established in December 2007 and registered with the Department Social Development as an NPO on 11th August 2008. APDEC’s area of operation stretches over 168 000 square kilometers and is divided into seven districts and two metropoles. We are currently represented in Amathole, Buffalo City, Saartjie Baartman, Nelson Mandela Bay (including Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch) and Mthatha districts, but still need to establish a footprint in the Chris Hani, OR Tambo, Alfred Nzo and Ukhahlamba districts. According to the 2011 census, there are approximately 478 000 persons with disabilities living in the Eastern Cape.

APD NMB Contacts