The Togo Association of the Deaf (AST) was established on March 8th, 1992 by handful of the deaf people. The association was established, operates and works within the school for the Deaf, in Lome the capital of Togo. For many years, the association has been largely unrecognized by the government of Togo. Efforts to get a certificate of incorporation for the association never work despite the fact that the association is a member of the Togolese Federation of the Persons with Disability (FETAPH) and World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).
Also for many years, the association was without an off space and hardly got financial support for its activities. Partners preferred to cooperate with the associations for the persons with disability. The coming of the WCARS project and the training offered to the board members have seen considerable changes in the evolution of the association. Through the knowledge on advocacy, AST has been able to advocate for successful registration of the association in November 2018 by the Minister of the territorial Administration, Decentralization and local Authorities. Besides, the association has been able to secure small office space which enables them to have permanent meeting place, a place for their leaders to meet and store association documents. Besides the office serves as place where members can go and get whatever support they need from the association.
For the first time in its history, AST was able to celebrate the International Week of the Deaf inside the country, September 2018 with the support from FETAPH and met local authorities. Too, AST has been able to provide capacity building training to the local deaf leaders on the field with the support from Danish Association of the Deaf (DDL). This will lead to the creation of the regional associations of the Deaf.
It is believed that, with a permanent office and official recognition, AST is on track to becoming a strong NAD for the country.