Ruth, 13 years old, born with hydrocephalus and spina bifida

Ruth is 13 years old and was born with hydrocephalus and spina bifida. With her wheelchair, provided by the CBR programme in Daru, Papua New Guninea, she is mobile again and has found many friends.

Community Based Rehabilitation

80 % of persons with disabilities live in developing countries. They often have virtually no access to medical attention, education or employment. Additionally, they frequently experience discrimination and social exclusion. As a result, an overwhelming majority of persons with disabilities or families of children with disabilities in developing countries are exposed to poverty and the mortality rate of persons with disabilities is extraordinarily high.

Community Based Rehabilitation

The concept of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is a comprehensive and sustainable way to reach and support persons with disabilities of all ages in developing countries, even in remote areas. Its aim is to provide rehabilitation, equal opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Community Based Rehabilitation serves an important purpose: family, neighbours and the whole community are included in the process of enhancing the capacities of persons with disabilities as well as in removing barriers in society which limit equal participation.

On an individual level, rehabilitation workers visit children with disabilities in their homes on a regular basis. They show family members how to do exercises with their children, for example how to strengthen their muscles and increase mobility and coordination. The children gain access to necessary medical treatment and therapeutic appliances. Instead of being taken away to special institutions, they remain part of their family and social environment. Parents, teachers, friends and neighbours experience first-hand how the abilities and qualities of a child with a disability can enrich their daily life.

The rehabilitation workers are also engaged in empowering persons with disabilities and their families to fight discrimination and create a disability-friendly society.

With support from the Austrian Development Cooperation, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD is strengthening its Community Based Rehabilitation Programmes in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Mozambique and adjusting them in line with the new comprehensive Guidelines for Community Based Rehabilitation, to be published by WHO in October 2010. Exchange of experiences and knowledge, sharing of Good Practice and developing training material for programme staff are part of this initiative.

In Northeast India, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD supports Community Based Rehabilitation initiatives in 55 districts, within the framework of a project partnership with the Indian based CBR Forum. The CBR Forum co-ordinates and monitors these initiatives, and provides the training for local organisations. As a result, services are now offered for the first time to children with disabilities in many remote areas and steps towards their inclusion in society are being taken.