Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) :: Lesson Plan - 3
Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) :: Lesson Plan - 3
Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) :: Lesson Plan - 3
PROGRAMME CRITERIA
The development and implementation of CBR programmes should be based on the following
criteria:
1. People with disabilities must be included in CBR programmes at all stages and
levels, including initial programme design and implementation. In order to give
significance to their involvement, they must have distinct decision-making roles.
2. The primary objective of CBR programme activities is the improvement of the
quality of life of people with disabilities.
3. One focus of CBR programme activities is working with the community to create
positive attitudes towards people with disabilities and to motivate community
members to support and participate in CBR activities.
4. The other focus of CBR programmes is providing assistance for people with all types
of disabilities (physical, sensory, psychological and mental); for people of all ages,
including older people; for people affected by leprosy; for people affected by
epilepsy; and for other people who may be identified by the community as needing
special assistance.
5. All activities in CBR programmes must be sensitive to the situation of girls and
women. This is because in many communities throughout the Asian and Pacific
region women are not treated equally. When they are disabled, the problems that
they face in life are doubled. Furthermore, women are usually the primary family
care-givers for all people with disabilities.
6. CBR programmes must be flexible so that they can operate at the local level and
within the context of local conditions. There should not be only one model of CBR
because different social and economic contexts and different needs of individual
communities will require different solutions. Flexible, local programmes will ensure
community involvement and result in a variety of programme models which are
appropriate for different places.
7. CBR programmes must coordinate service delivery at the local level. Community
members seldom understand the different roles and specializations that are part of
providing assistance to people with disabilities. They tend only to see the problem
of disability and only to want access to "one window" for help. They may focus only
on where to go and who to see about a specific "problem", rather than
understanding the totality of what constitutes a fulfilling life for a community
member who has a disability.
SUMMARY
In recent years a multi-sectoral (or multi-disciplinary) concept of CBR has evolved. That
concept emphasizes working with and through the community to create positive attitudes
towards people with disabilities, to provide assistance to people with disabilities and to
make the necessary changes to the environment and service delivery systems.
In response to this conceptual change, CBR is now defined as a community development
programme that has seven different components:
(i) Creation of a positive attitude towards people with disabilities;
(ii) Provision of rehabilitation services;
(iii) Provision of education and training opportunities;
(iv) Creation of micro and macro income-generation opportunities;
(v) Provision of care facilities;
(vi) Prevention of the causes of disabilities;
(vii) Monitoring and evaluation.
The resources, skills and initiatives to start and sustain CBR programmes require the
cooperation and collaboration of seven relevant sectors:
(i) People with disabilities
(ii) Families of people with disabilities;
(iii) Communities;
(iv) Governments (local, regional, national, international);
(v) NGOs, local, regional, national and international organizations, and organizations of
people with disabilities;
(vi) Medical professionals, allied health science professionals, educators, social scientists
and other professionals;
(vii) The private sector (business and industry).