Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is now viewed as a process in which people with disabilities or their advocates make decisions about what services they need to enhance participation. We do have the rehabilitation services and the responsibility to provide relevant information to people with disabilities so that they can make informed decisions regarding what is appropriate for them.

Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy within general community development for the rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities and social inclusion of all people with disabilities CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of people with disabilities themselves, their families, organizations and communities, and the relevant governmental and non-governmental health, education, vocational, social and other services.

The major objectives of CBR are:

To ensure that people with disabilities are able to maximise their physical and mental abilities, to access regular services and opportunities, and to become active contributors to the community and society at large.
To activate communities to promote and protect the human rights of people with disabilities through changes within the community, for example, by removing barriers to participation.

The principle of ‘inclusion’ is also being applied to policies and services in health, skills training and employment and to community life in general.

The concept of an inclusive community means that communities adapt their structures and procedures to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities, rather than expecting them to change to fit in with existing arrangements. It places the focus on all citizens and their entitlement to equal treatment, again reinforcing the fact that the rights of all people, including those with disabilities, must be respected. The community looks at itself and considers how policies, laws, and common practices affect all community members.