FENAVAPE – the National Federation of the AVAPES was founded in March 2007, the year in which AVAPE chalked up 25 years of work on behalf of persons with disability.

The Federation was born with the aim of being an active body in defense of rights, by contributing to defining national public policies and to articulate with the authorities and private entities the means for inclusion and exercise of the role in society of persons with disability in Brazil.

The principles which guided the creation of the Federation were the performance of the users of social assistance services, self-sustainability of the affiliated organizations, political autonomy and recognizing the worth of persons with disability.

From then on, a strong Avapean movement was born, sustained by and aimed at organized civil society.