Persons with special needs in the Western province have been empowered to contribute to the development of the districts and province at large. This was made possible through a five- day Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) capacity development and sensitization workshop that was held at the Peter Torot Centre in Kiunga in North Fly District last week, which provided necessary skills for change in this area in the province. Participants who attended the workshop came in from Delta Fly, South Fly and North Fly districts. The Provincial Division for Community Development and Welfare Services organized this training supported by development partners, Australian Doctors International (ADI) and World Vision to support provincial Disabled People Organization (DPO). PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons (ADP) National Secretary and Master Trainer, Ross Tito, explained that the workshop covered modules on structure of government, OPD constitution on governance issues, roles and responsibilities of executives, literacy, accountability, transparency including framework, and implementation. “Workshop helped government officers upskilled their work programs to include persons with special needs," he said. He further said current leaders and those coming in the near future should include OPD in any development so that disability and disadvantaged citizens receive services in the province and respective districts. Community Development Officers have been urged to better understand their roles to interact with persons with disability in terms of health, education and other services to participate for change.