The Association for Welfare of the Handicapped was set up in 1973 and was registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 with Regn. No. 26/75 dt 29/03/1975. The registered office of the AWH is functioning at 17/194 M' Square Complex, Pavamani Road, Kozhikode 673001.

The AWH is registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 1976 with Registration No. FC No. 052880056 dt 10.04.1985

From a humble beginning, a charitable voluntary organization working for the welfare, development and empowerment of the disabled in Kerala especially of the comparatively backward northern part (Malabar region) of the State of Kerala, the AWH has grown considerably and has become a nodal agency for all welfare and development programmes and has also become a Mother NGO of Calicut.

Its activities have registered a manifold increase and reach every segment of the needy sections of the society.
AWH aims to reach out to all categories of disabled people whether they are visually imapired, orthopaedically handicapped, hearing impaired, spastics, deaf, blind, mentally retarded, people afflicted by cerebral palsy etc.

With the above in view the AWH is actively engaged in activities that bring relief to the less fortunate sections of the society. The AWH pioneered in the setting up of institutions of special education which is a major tool for empowering the disabled, institutions to create professionals in various disability management areas, institutions of higher education and technical education. The AWH is also implementing various medical intervention programmes through its centres established for this purpose.

The institution has also been implementing programmes for management of chronic diseases. About 30 chronic diseases have been identified which if un-cared will lead to disabilities. The haemophilia Society have been formed which is affiliated to Haemophilia Federation of India and World Federation of Haemophilia, Canada. In the same lines the AWH has taken initiative in forming the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India MISSI Kerala Chapter and the Diabetes Society with the aim of catering to diabetes patients.

The AWH has also set up a number of institutions for imparting vocational training so that avenues for economic rehabilitation for persons with disabilities are opened.

Though the main focus of the Institution is welfare, development and empowerment of the disabled, the AWH has expanded its activities to cater to the needs of other needy sections of the Society especially women and children. The organization has taken up activities related to child health, nutrition, human resource development, socio-economic programmes, drinking water supply projects, projects for destitute and needy women, waste management, AIDS control projects etc.