A key achievement of HI is the establishment of three NGOs that work in the area of disability support and services. HI provided financial and technical assistance to the formation of Maldives Deaf Association (MDA); Association for disAbility and Development (ADD) and Hand-in-Hand. HI assisted “Hand in Hand” to conduct psychological support group for parents with children with disabilities. 8.6 MVdisAbilityNet MVdisAbilityNet provides a disability related social networking forum. Members of the forum include persons with disabilities; parents; volunteers; government officials; Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); Community Based Organisations (CBOs); health professionals; teachers and interested individuals. It provides a discussion forum and mailing list for disability issues in Maldives. It was established in January 2009 as a lobby group working towards getting the Government of the Maldives to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. However, it is functioning as a networking tool to share news and ideas. The address of ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES the network is: http://groups.google.com/group/mvdisability. ... 58