At its forty-eighth session, hosted by the Government of China in Beijing in 1992, the UN ESCAP declared the period of 1993 to 2002 as the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities. From 1993 to 2002, annual campaigns were held in various countries to raise public awareness of and mobilize support for the Decade goals of full participation and equality for persons with disabilities. The annual campaigns also provided a platform for the persons with disabilities as well as participants without disabilities from the Asian & Pacific region to network and share experiences, challenges and ideas. Many gains have been achieved by promoting awareness about the situation of persons with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region. The Osaka Forum, held in October 2002, concluded the last of the ten annual campaigns. The Regional NGO Network (RNN) which was established for the purpose of organizing the annual conferences, was dissolved after the Osaka Forum.

At the Osaka Forum, the idea of forming a new regional NGO network on disability was welcomed by various sectors to strengthen regional initiatives and momentum to meet the rising expectations and demands of the New Millennium. The name of the new network was decided as "Asia and Pacific Disability Forum" (in short, APDF).

In its 20+ years since being established in 2003, APDF’s objectives are to continue supporting, promoting and realizing the goals of : (1) The 2002 UN ESCAP Resolution 58/4, "Promoting an Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights Based Society for People with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region in the 21st Century". (2) The 2nd Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2003-2012, through the implementation of the 2002, “Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific”. (3) The 3rd Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, through the implementation of the 2012, “Incheon Strategy to ‘Make the Right Real’ for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific”. (4) The 2018, “Beijing Declaration and Action Plan to Accelerate the Implementation of the Incheon Strategy” from the midpoint review of the 3rd Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022. (5) The 2022, “Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032” and 2024, “Operational Guide on the Implementation of the Jakarta Declaration.