Mr. Muhammad Atif Sheikh has been an activist for the rights of persons with disabilities for more than 13 years. He is the President of the Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP), a self- help organization for persons with disabilities. Founded in 1997, STEP under the leadership of Mr. Sheikh has become a strong voice for citizens with disabilities in Pakistan.
In 2002, Mr. Sheikh represented Pakistan in the World Assembly of Disabled Peoples’ International and the Osaka Forum on Disability and Development. In the following years, he established affiliations with global partners and conducted training and capacity building with prominent persons with disabilities. He is the founder of a number of entities led by persons with disabilities at national and regional levels, including the Assistive Technology Center in Pakistan and the South Asian Disability Forum.
Mr. Sheikh has served as the first Chairperson of the South Asian Disability Forum and regularly shares information and insights with activist persons with disabilities, within South Asia and in other ESCAP subregions through the online disability information resource site (APCD Empowerment Café). Mr. Sheikh has also presented technical papers on different aspects of disability and development at more than 30 policy meetings and seminars across the world.