Disability meta-organizations and policy-making under new forms of governance

Abstract

Disability meta-organizations are playing a significant role in influencing the development of disability policy. An example of this is the Disabled Peoples Organizations - Denmark (DPOD), which has managed to unify the disability movement and place itself in a unique position of power. The strategy of DPOD is based on organizational adaptation fitting into the institutional settings of government and building its influence on dialogue, and the establishment of a relationship of trust with political actors in network-based political settings. The change in governance towards cooperation through formal disability councils at municipal level requires the ability to recruit an increasing number of politically active representatives of disabled people. Tensions based on identity conflicts and different political priorities are revealed between different kinds of member organizations when representatives of DPOD are placed in political settings delegated to speak on behalf of disabled people in general. © 2011 Nordic Network on Disability Research.