community based rehabilitation

community based rehabilitation

Defining the concept of CBR:
In the evolution of CBR a number of attempts have been made to define CBR in a way that encompasses its core elements or characteristics. The following in a selection of some of the definition:
v  Community based rehabilitation is a strategy within community development for the rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities and social integration of all people with disabilities. CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of disable people themselves, their families and communities and the appropriate health education, vocational and social services (ILO, UNESCO, WHO 1994).
v  Community based rehabilitation is a strategy for enhancing the quality of life of disabled people of improving service delivery, by providing more equitable opportunities and by promoting and protecting their human rights (Helander 1995a).
v    Community based rehabilitation is a comprehensive and holistic approach in the field of rehabilitation building on local resources and enabling social integration of people with disabilities into the mainstream. The long-term significance of CBE based on social change and total community development, rather than on more services (NORAD Seva-in-Action, 1992).
v   Miles (1995) stated that the term Community based rehabilitation is currently used in at least six distinguishable ways with some overlap:
Ø  CBR is therapy or special measures given by families to disable members in their home with efforts to influence public attitudes and improve access to services. These efforts may be supported by a volunteer or paid worker.
Ø  CBR is therapeutic, educational, vocational or social self-help projects organized by disabled persons and their parents-with or without external technical help.
Ø  CBR is an ideology whereby a nation’s entire resources for rehabilitation are centrally planned and allocated equitably across the population.
Ø  CBR is the provision of community programs by rehabilitation institute where resources centers take knowledge and skills to isolated or deprived communities (outreach).
Ø  CBR is an externally supported system in which trained and paid (CBR field workers) undertake the mobilization, training and public education takes related to disability.
Ø  CBR is the adaption of the term CBR by those not actively involved in community   development and by organization or institutions wishing to appear to comfort to the latest ‘trend’ while actually continuing previous programme   strategies.
Miles also states than an alternative approach called ‘information based rehabilitation’ focuses on how information –broadly understood as concepts, knowledge, skills, design  and feedback –is created, transmitted, developed monitored , applied circulated and evaluated in these strategies (Miles, 1994).


Goals of CBR
Some of the goals of CBR are:

v  Awareness creation and advocacy: Increasing awareness, particularly of governments and (employers) in the private sector that persons with disabilities have the right, duty and ability to participate in economic activities and to access services in microfinance, business advice and promotion. CBM closely cooperates with Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) in this effort.
v  Pre-vocational training: Assisting schools which enrol persons with disabilities to give due attention to vocational skills, promoted side by side with academic education.
v  Skills and vocational training: Supporting training programmes to enhance marketable skills for persons with disabilities, to improve opportunities for employment and self-employment.
v  Self-employment: Promotion of initiatives for the establishment of micro enterprises by persons with disabilities with business advice and provision of loans.
v  Mainstreaming: Promoting scope of persons with disabilities to access and integrate within existing vocational training and employment programmes that were previously not accessible due to various barriers.

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