CBR IS A PROCESS OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Community Based Rehabilitation, as I understand it, is a process of involvement of the local people in the development activities of that community by their own resources and initiatives. From our last 11 years experience in the disability field, we have found that the presence of the disabled persons even those people who are living in the community, are being ignored from all functions where their consent is most important.
Before CBR approach, especially I cannot find any approach where participation of all people has been ensured in the daily activities for their own development from the same community. What is happening in our society in the name of the development is imposition of development programs on the people of the community. As a result, people do not perceive these programs as their own.
On the other hand, historically, disabled people were left out from all types of developmental activities. As a result, I find it extremely difficult to consider these activities as total development of the human society. It may be termed as partial development of the community and for the human society.
Now a days, I think that the designers, planners and thinkers of CBR approach, realizes the lacking of participation from all categories of people, specially disabled persons those who were totally absent from the mainstream of societal life. As a result, they are giving prime attention in involving the disabled persons and are addressing uses such as, how to develop the quality of PwDs’ present situation and how to bring them in the mainstream society. To me CBR is an excellent opportunity for the development practitioners to achieve quick success through creating space and scope for the participation of the disable people. This is also an opportunity for the disabled persons to show their potentialities in the society through participating in the development activities. However, the major challenge is how INITIATOR OR FACILITATOR OF THE PROGRAMME WILL RUN THIS CONCEPT, since the entire implementation blue print lies within his control.
To me CBR is not simply a Program approach, rather it is more a political and philosophical approach for the development of Community. The concept has given the assurance of human rights that will be possible to avail by the all classes of the people in a community. To implement this broad approach, it is critical that the Initiators or Facilitators of CBR are well trained on the details of the methodology of the CBR program. Since the approach provides a means to the community people to understand their own problems, qualities, opportunities and equal rights to participate in the development activities of the community where they live.
Considering the above idea, we fee that in order to achieve meaningful result from the CBR as a process of social development, we need to include non-disabled persons in this process as well because in the community disabled people does not live alone. Another thing that we have observed in the process the process is the building-up of "self realization" among the people We have wrongly assumed that this is probably possible simply through education means. But a truly functional education to make one understand and realize ones own quality, capability, ability, and resources does not exist in the present educational format. We have observed that without this “self-realization” people easily get frustrated since they neither know how they can contribute to the process nor they know how the process would contribute to their well being. This seemingly unimportant element in the entire process is so significantly and critical that it may destroy the whole efforts. We have tried to see the impact of our work in a small scale in a remote area of Southern Bangladesh — Chakaria, in Cox's Bazaar district
While working, we have found that they have no role anywhere, even in the family where they live. They are helpless to the extreme point. Their presence in the social life is noticeably missing. These people are being treated as burden in the middle income family and in the poor classes, they are being considering as an income generating source, on the other hand those who are living in the upper classes they consider them as an additional responsibility. But in one point they all are equal, that is they have no acceptability in the society, socially and culturally. In the society, to be accepted anything in anywhere it needs involvement. In the case of disability, it is totally nil. At present the mentality of the people are that they always expect return from others. The attitudes of majority of the families with disabled persons are, they try to hide the disable persons from others. These social incidences of disabilities do not require much description because it is well known to all.
We are running CBR program through the formation of groups of vulnerable people in Chakaria since 1995. Initially we focused only on the disabled people to form the groups. After two year the community appealed that, the non-disabled people should also be included in the groups. So from 1997, we have opened the door of the groups for all members of the community irrespective of sex, religion, economic status to become members of CBR group. The only condition is that the group member must be from the family of a disabled person. If there is no disabled person in the family then s/he must be closely related with any disabled people in the community. So far, 115 groups have been formed in six unions of Chakaria. In majority of the groups, the PwDs are providing the leadership.
Although initially we tried to form groups of 20 members with 33% participation of female beneficiaries and 20% from able-bodied community people, the female participation could not be achieved due to social stigma. Out of 192 disabled members in 115 groups, females' representation is only 90 and the able-bodied people are family-heads of disabled children.
The groups arrange regular meeting to discuss problems relating to their family and community and try to find possible solutions. They practice this to develop their self- confidence in decision making to solve their own and collective problems. They are now trying to locate local resources for possible use through arranging these meeting in presence of local elite, local government and non- government officials.
The most critical problems that were identified by the groups are:
Education (literacy rate is almost nil among the person with disability)
Economic condition (they belong to the low income group and most of them were burden on the family or are engaged on begging)
Socially unacceptable (none considers their existence in the community, social facility or infrastructure are not accessible to the PwDs, and Most of all none in the community thinks for their development.)
INDICATOR OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: SARPV initiated the CBR program considering that it is a tool of social development and through this process, the community people could be involved and integrated. Since the issues of the disabled people are not going to be addressed by any community development program, SARPV formed the groups prioritizing the most neglected persons in the community. Although a number of program activities are run by various community development organizations like Education, Skill Training, Saving and Credit, Ensuring land for landless, but these programs do not include the Person with Disability.
SARPV was shocked to identify this severe lacking in the development programs and latter it initiated its own program specifically focused for the Person with Disability. The program included Education, Skill Training, Home counseling Savings and Credit, Networking, Group management, advocacy etc. SARPV also facilitated the activities for taking their problems to the development stakeholders and take proactive initiatives for solving the problem through the help of the community or others.
SIGNNIFICANCE OF CBR:
The CBR program at Chakaria encouraged the PwDs to place them in the mainstream social life. During this period for the first time in the history of Chakoria, 5 PwDs have succeeded the Secondary School Certificate examination and three of them have enrolled in the Higher Secondary Examination. This was a significant dividend of CBR program that the community people saw in concrete form. The community realized that given the opportunity PwDs can also become a dignified and contributory member of the society. Through this integration, it has been proved that despite vulnerability and socio-economic condition, the community is willing to accept their fellow member if they have qualities. The central question here is not disability but accessibility and equal opportunity.
Second, CBR ensured the assessment of the various weaknesses and strengths of the community. Through this process the community people realized the importance of the services that either do not exist in the community or their quality of the services are extremely low, such as health-nutrition classes, literacy campaign for the groups. The process actually increased the awareness among these people for possible group-approach to identify their problems, locate available facilities and raise their voice for more equal participation and opportunity.
Thirdly, It ensures to create an environment of job opportunity for the vulnerable groups in the community. One of the important interventions of the SARPV in the community is to creating job opportunities for the PwDs so that they can earn money. At present more than 40 persons are involved in small scale business and they are economically self-sustained. Through this economical strength, they have a place in the community, which were only a wishful dream before. Now they feel that the community respects them and looks at them in different eyes.
Fourth, This mechanism provided a network among the community and treats each other as partners in community development. All the CBR groups are well noticed by the local government and thana administration. These officials if find anything they can do for the group, they extend their assistance even without any request. The Chakaria CBR program proved that maintaining a network with all the stakeholders of the community is therefore an essential element of CBR
Fifth, CBR provided the opportunity to empower the vulnerable groups. The person with disability does not feel shy to go outside and interact with people or participate in social events. The parents are also coming forward to talk about their problem and how to overcome their problem. Here we observed that home counseling is an essential element CBR that greatly helps to overcome social barriers.
Sixth, CBR created a social harmony through an environment for respect for each other. We have observed that social leaders and stakeholders of the community come forward to listen the voices of the group members and are helpful solving problems. What was almost absurd before 5 years, as it was the common notion that the vulnerable people can only ask for help, they cannot contribute anything for the society. But now they are contributing section of the community.
Seventh, CBR protected human rights of the vulnerable groups. The community people and the development organizations that have been working with vulnerable groups and poor people have not considered disabled people from socioeconomic vulnerability and cultural lagging. The NGO's working with woman, children, and poor hardly considers disabled persons as one of their beneficiaries. It seems that the PwDs are not human beings and have no right to social services. The Chakaria CBR groups demonstrated how they created the linkages with other organizations such as drinking water and sanitation: Before the CBR program, Person with Disability were not allowed to join for such facilities of the GOs and NGOs what would have provided to the other vulnerable groups. But after having the CBR program, gradually all this support are going to their hand and they are even getting responsibilities to take care and maintain those facilities Thus an alternative social integration process has been initiated.
Eight CBR also play the role of the advocacy to involvement of the local government to the development of the Persons with Disability is also has a great significance. The groups arrange monthly meeting with the local representatives of the community (Union Parishad). They group members express their problems and simultaneously provides suggestion. This process has start from last one year and by this time Union Parishad already has declared that they will spent 0.5% form their total development budget for the disable people of that community with their consent in Chakoria thana Fashiakhali union only, it proves that CBR has an effective role to change in the policy too.
Ninth CBR works for prevention and to reduce the cause of disability: the approach to address problems associated with disability addressed by the community. It encompasses the causes behind the problems. The problems are becoming acute not only for attitudes of general people barring participation and access to available resources to disabled persons, but for lack of preventive measured to lessen the severity of disability and control disability affecting factors as well. Here CBR facilitates to minimize the misconception about disability and non-confidence on disabled people by the general people. It is done gradually through close and frequent interaction between disabled people and the general community. This in fact builds the steps towards general people's conceptualization of disability from more human perspective. On the other hand making community people take role in the prevention minimizes future threat of more acuteness of the problems.
Tenth CBR is a process to ensure the democracy of sharing the responsibility to our disabled population with the greater mass where the latter need to re-identify their resources to fit in with disability redeeming measured. The sharing of responsibility is done through passing the minor details of a particular problem to the concerned people and making the use of these details ensured in day-to-day activities. Here the initiator or facilitator would only give input to promote general people's enthusiastic involvement in coming forward to solve the identified problems. In fact the people in their part identify the problems their way and every time attempts indigenous efforts. Again the facilitator here needs to incorporate the efforts with available knowledge.
Eleventh CBR is a tool of ensuring Equal rights of the vulnerable groups of the community. My experience, especially during the CBR program, is rehabilitation of the handicapped section of the community is never possible until and unless the social attitude to the handicapped changes. The present attitude of the society to the handicapped is one of doing a favor and not thinking “equal". This thinking originates from the family in which a disabled child is born. I therefore emphasize criticalness of the point that rehabilitation of the handicapped must start from the house.
Though there is no formula or blueprint for starting point of rehabilitation Program, it could be started from family or close family. How it should be started depends on various facts: the number and nature of the handicapped, the interest and talents of parents, the resources available.
We also have to thinking about how we will be able to motivate others in order to get the assistance (voluntary, if possible) from other rehabilitation professionals, schoolteacher, and other rehabilitation professionals, schoolteachers, local government, local administration unit and others with skills that could be involved with the whole process.
I believe that a person becomes handicapped only when s/he is mentally weak. A child is made mentally weak from home and usually by the family members. When a disabled child first learns to think she learns about "favor /mercy " but not equal rights. The child’s movements, participation in any functions of their family is severely restricted. So, if rehabilitation is going to reach the disabled, I think rehabilitation of the mentality of the Parents of the disabled is first necessary. Parents of the disabled should learn how they would work "with" the disabled person so that the person can think themselves equal to others.
To create this environment at home, we should think how home based rehabilitation services could be established. If this program approach could be launched, I think that the present social attitude to the disabled would probably change significantly.
Twelfth CBR works as a tool of Poverty alleviation. The role of the schoolteacher is also critical in any rehabilitation activity. A school teacher can help a disabled child to adjust mentally. To adjust to the present situation guidelines should be developed in a proper way for the intellectual and emotional development of PwD and giving then the opportunity to participate in all functions with others. Like the role of the media such as Radio, Television, Newspaper is important in the rehabilitation activities of the handicapped disabled. They can broadcast different types of programs on disability which the disabled and their parents can get the opportunity to think and realize that the disabled are not a burden and are not cursed by society. They may turn into a social and economical strength if they receive the proper environment and opportunities to build them up in the proper way.
CONCLUSION:
So I think home based rehabilitation Program should be launched immediately and with disclosure of the parents. To create this Program a sound structure is needed perhaps with a referral chain, starting with rehabilitation at home, with guidance from a center run by locally trained workers. This center should have a close link with the nearest school orthopedic hospital, physiotherapy center, local government and local administration unit and other necessary institutions.
Finally, before starting the program in the community we should emphasize on the available human resources who are there and how we can utilize them in that program. This will increase local ownership of the program and increase sustainability. Now days we provide little attention to design programs involving the community people neither there is any approach to do so. What we are used to development program is on the basis of top down process what government; Donor and International agencies immediately should redesigned. Program should be chalked out on the demand of the people of that community.
We must have to think why community people will support this program. How this program will sustain and why they will feel ownership. The donor should also evaluate why they would support this program, how effective and efficient the program is?. Usually the donors are more interested to see if the program involves disabled People or not. This attitude is actually contributing to the infectiveness of CBR program. CBR is program approach should be meant for integration of the community and not limited to the involvement of PwDs only
As the news of the Program travels from family to family and village to village and place to place it is expected that the impact could result on changing the social attitude to handicapped of the family, the society and the nation at large. Thus I strongly believe that if any body comes forward to run the CBR program it will ensure the Process of Social Development.
Shahidul Haque (Ashoka fellow)
Founder General Secretary
SARPV-Bangladesh
Tel: 880-2- 811 9 2 71
: 880-2- 912 4 522
Fax: 880-2- 811 9 774
Email: shaque@bd.drik.net, sarpv@bangla.net
Before CBR approach, especially I cannot find any approach where participation of all people has been ensured in the daily activities for their own development from the same community. What is happening in our society in the name of the development is imposition of development programs on the people of the community. As a result, people do not perceive these programs as their own.
On the other hand, historically, disabled people were left out from all types of developmental activities. As a result, I find it extremely difficult to consider these activities as total development of the human society. It may be termed as partial development of the community and for the human society.
Now a days, I think that the designers, planners and thinkers of CBR approach, realizes the lacking of participation from all categories of people, specially disabled persons those who were totally absent from the mainstream of societal life. As a result, they are giving prime attention in involving the disabled persons and are addressing uses such as, how to develop the quality of PwDs’ present situation and how to bring them in the mainstream society. To me CBR is an excellent opportunity for the development practitioners to achieve quick success through creating space and scope for the participation of the disable people. This is also an opportunity for the disabled persons to show their potentialities in the society through participating in the development activities. However, the major challenge is how INITIATOR OR FACILITATOR OF THE PROGRAMME WILL RUN THIS CONCEPT, since the entire implementation blue print lies within his control.
To me CBR is not simply a Program approach, rather it is more a political and philosophical approach for the development of Community. The concept has given the assurance of human rights that will be possible to avail by the all classes of the people in a community. To implement this broad approach, it is critical that the Initiators or Facilitators of CBR are well trained on the details of the methodology of the CBR program. Since the approach provides a means to the community people to understand their own problems, qualities, opportunities and equal rights to participate in the development activities of the community where they live.
Considering the above idea, we fee that in order to achieve meaningful result from the CBR as a process of social development, we need to include non-disabled persons in this process as well because in the community disabled people does not live alone. Another thing that we have observed in the process the process is the building-up of "self realization" among the people We have wrongly assumed that this is probably possible simply through education means. But a truly functional education to make one understand and realize ones own quality, capability, ability, and resources does not exist in the present educational format. We have observed that without this “self-realization” people easily get frustrated since they neither know how they can contribute to the process nor they know how the process would contribute to their well being. This seemingly unimportant element in the entire process is so significantly and critical that it may destroy the whole efforts. We have tried to see the impact of our work in a small scale in a remote area of Southern Bangladesh — Chakaria, in Cox's Bazaar district
While working, we have found that they have no role anywhere, even in the family where they live. They are helpless to the extreme point. Their presence in the social life is noticeably missing. These people are being treated as burden in the middle income family and in the poor classes, they are being considering as an income generating source, on the other hand those who are living in the upper classes they consider them as an additional responsibility. But in one point they all are equal, that is they have no acceptability in the society, socially and culturally. In the society, to be accepted anything in anywhere it needs involvement. In the case of disability, it is totally nil. At present the mentality of the people are that they always expect return from others. The attitudes of majority of the families with disabled persons are, they try to hide the disable persons from others. These social incidences of disabilities do not require much description because it is well known to all.
We are running CBR program through the formation of groups of vulnerable people in Chakaria since 1995. Initially we focused only on the disabled people to form the groups. After two year the community appealed that, the non-disabled people should also be included in the groups. So from 1997, we have opened the door of the groups for all members of the community irrespective of sex, religion, economic status to become members of CBR group. The only condition is that the group member must be from the family of a disabled person. If there is no disabled person in the family then s/he must be closely related with any disabled people in the community. So far, 115 groups have been formed in six unions of Chakaria. In majority of the groups, the PwDs are providing the leadership.
Although initially we tried to form groups of 20 members with 33% participation of female beneficiaries and 20% from able-bodied community people, the female participation could not be achieved due to social stigma. Out of 192 disabled members in 115 groups, females' representation is only 90 and the able-bodied people are family-heads of disabled children.
The groups arrange regular meeting to discuss problems relating to their family and community and try to find possible solutions. They practice this to develop their self- confidence in decision making to solve their own and collective problems. They are now trying to locate local resources for possible use through arranging these meeting in presence of local elite, local government and non- government officials.
The most critical problems that were identified by the groups are:
Education (literacy rate is almost nil among the person with disability)
Economic condition (they belong to the low income group and most of them were burden on the family or are engaged on begging)
Socially unacceptable (none considers their existence in the community, social facility or infrastructure are not accessible to the PwDs, and Most of all none in the community thinks for their development.)
INDICATOR OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: SARPV initiated the CBR program considering that it is a tool of social development and through this process, the community people could be involved and integrated. Since the issues of the disabled people are not going to be addressed by any community development program, SARPV formed the groups prioritizing the most neglected persons in the community. Although a number of program activities are run by various community development organizations like Education, Skill Training, Saving and Credit, Ensuring land for landless, but these programs do not include the Person with Disability.
SARPV was shocked to identify this severe lacking in the development programs and latter it initiated its own program specifically focused for the Person with Disability. The program included Education, Skill Training, Home counseling Savings and Credit, Networking, Group management, advocacy etc. SARPV also facilitated the activities for taking their problems to the development stakeholders and take proactive initiatives for solving the problem through the help of the community or others.
SIGNNIFICANCE OF CBR:
The CBR program at Chakaria encouraged the PwDs to place them in the mainstream social life. During this period for the first time in the history of Chakoria, 5 PwDs have succeeded the Secondary School Certificate examination and three of them have enrolled in the Higher Secondary Examination. This was a significant dividend of CBR program that the community people saw in concrete form. The community realized that given the opportunity PwDs can also become a dignified and contributory member of the society. Through this integration, it has been proved that despite vulnerability and socio-economic condition, the community is willing to accept their fellow member if they have qualities. The central question here is not disability but accessibility and equal opportunity.
Second, CBR ensured the assessment of the various weaknesses and strengths of the community. Through this process the community people realized the importance of the services that either do not exist in the community or their quality of the services are extremely low, such as health-nutrition classes, literacy campaign for the groups. The process actually increased the awareness among these people for possible group-approach to identify their problems, locate available facilities and raise their voice for more equal participation and opportunity.
Thirdly, It ensures to create an environment of job opportunity for the vulnerable groups in the community. One of the important interventions of the SARPV in the community is to creating job opportunities for the PwDs so that they can earn money. At present more than 40 persons are involved in small scale business and they are economically self-sustained. Through this economical strength, they have a place in the community, which were only a wishful dream before. Now they feel that the community respects them and looks at them in different eyes.
Fourth, This mechanism provided a network among the community and treats each other as partners in community development. All the CBR groups are well noticed by the local government and thana administration. These officials if find anything they can do for the group, they extend their assistance even without any request. The Chakaria CBR program proved that maintaining a network with all the stakeholders of the community is therefore an essential element of CBR
Fifth, CBR provided the opportunity to empower the vulnerable groups. The person with disability does not feel shy to go outside and interact with people or participate in social events. The parents are also coming forward to talk about their problem and how to overcome their problem. Here we observed that home counseling is an essential element CBR that greatly helps to overcome social barriers.
Sixth, CBR created a social harmony through an environment for respect for each other. We have observed that social leaders and stakeholders of the community come forward to listen the voices of the group members and are helpful solving problems. What was almost absurd before 5 years, as it was the common notion that the vulnerable people can only ask for help, they cannot contribute anything for the society. But now they are contributing section of the community.
Seventh, CBR protected human rights of the vulnerable groups. The community people and the development organizations that have been working with vulnerable groups and poor people have not considered disabled people from socioeconomic vulnerability and cultural lagging. The NGO's working with woman, children, and poor hardly considers disabled persons as one of their beneficiaries. It seems that the PwDs are not human beings and have no right to social services. The Chakaria CBR groups demonstrated how they created the linkages with other organizations such as drinking water and sanitation: Before the CBR program, Person with Disability were not allowed to join for such facilities of the GOs and NGOs what would have provided to the other vulnerable groups. But after having the CBR program, gradually all this support are going to their hand and they are even getting responsibilities to take care and maintain those facilities Thus an alternative social integration process has been initiated.
Eight CBR also play the role of the advocacy to involvement of the local government to the development of the Persons with Disability is also has a great significance. The groups arrange monthly meeting with the local representatives of the community (Union Parishad). They group members express their problems and simultaneously provides suggestion. This process has start from last one year and by this time Union Parishad already has declared that they will spent 0.5% form their total development budget for the disable people of that community with their consent in Chakoria thana Fashiakhali union only, it proves that CBR has an effective role to change in the policy too.
Ninth CBR works for prevention and to reduce the cause of disability: the approach to address problems associated with disability addressed by the community. It encompasses the causes behind the problems. The problems are becoming acute not only for attitudes of general people barring participation and access to available resources to disabled persons, but for lack of preventive measured to lessen the severity of disability and control disability affecting factors as well. Here CBR facilitates to minimize the misconception about disability and non-confidence on disabled people by the general people. It is done gradually through close and frequent interaction between disabled people and the general community. This in fact builds the steps towards general people's conceptualization of disability from more human perspective. On the other hand making community people take role in the prevention minimizes future threat of more acuteness of the problems.
Tenth CBR is a process to ensure the democracy of sharing the responsibility to our disabled population with the greater mass where the latter need to re-identify their resources to fit in with disability redeeming measured. The sharing of responsibility is done through passing the minor details of a particular problem to the concerned people and making the use of these details ensured in day-to-day activities. Here the initiator or facilitator would only give input to promote general people's enthusiastic involvement in coming forward to solve the identified problems. In fact the people in their part identify the problems their way and every time attempts indigenous efforts. Again the facilitator here needs to incorporate the efforts with available knowledge.
Eleventh CBR is a tool of ensuring Equal rights of the vulnerable groups of the community. My experience, especially during the CBR program, is rehabilitation of the handicapped section of the community is never possible until and unless the social attitude to the handicapped changes. The present attitude of the society to the handicapped is one of doing a favor and not thinking “equal". This thinking originates from the family in which a disabled child is born. I therefore emphasize criticalness of the point that rehabilitation of the handicapped must start from the house.
Though there is no formula or blueprint for starting point of rehabilitation Program, it could be started from family or close family. How it should be started depends on various facts: the number and nature of the handicapped, the interest and talents of parents, the resources available.
We also have to thinking about how we will be able to motivate others in order to get the assistance (voluntary, if possible) from other rehabilitation professionals, schoolteacher, and other rehabilitation professionals, schoolteachers, local government, local administration unit and others with skills that could be involved with the whole process.
I believe that a person becomes handicapped only when s/he is mentally weak. A child is made mentally weak from home and usually by the family members. When a disabled child first learns to think she learns about "favor /mercy " but not equal rights. The child’s movements, participation in any functions of their family is severely restricted. So, if rehabilitation is going to reach the disabled, I think rehabilitation of the mentality of the Parents of the disabled is first necessary. Parents of the disabled should learn how they would work "with" the disabled person so that the person can think themselves equal to others.
To create this environment at home, we should think how home based rehabilitation services could be established. If this program approach could be launched, I think that the present social attitude to the disabled would probably change significantly.
Twelfth CBR works as a tool of Poverty alleviation. The role of the schoolteacher is also critical in any rehabilitation activity. A school teacher can help a disabled child to adjust mentally. To adjust to the present situation guidelines should be developed in a proper way for the intellectual and emotional development of PwD and giving then the opportunity to participate in all functions with others. Like the role of the media such as Radio, Television, Newspaper is important in the rehabilitation activities of the handicapped disabled. They can broadcast different types of programs on disability which the disabled and their parents can get the opportunity to think and realize that the disabled are not a burden and are not cursed by society. They may turn into a social and economical strength if they receive the proper environment and opportunities to build them up in the proper way.
CONCLUSION:
So I think home based rehabilitation Program should be launched immediately and with disclosure of the parents. To create this Program a sound structure is needed perhaps with a referral chain, starting with rehabilitation at home, with guidance from a center run by locally trained workers. This center should have a close link with the nearest school orthopedic hospital, physiotherapy center, local government and local administration unit and other necessary institutions.
Finally, before starting the program in the community we should emphasize on the available human resources who are there and how we can utilize them in that program. This will increase local ownership of the program and increase sustainability. Now days we provide little attention to design programs involving the community people neither there is any approach to do so. What we are used to development program is on the basis of top down process what government; Donor and International agencies immediately should redesigned. Program should be chalked out on the demand of the people of that community.
We must have to think why community people will support this program. How this program will sustain and why they will feel ownership. The donor should also evaluate why they would support this program, how effective and efficient the program is?. Usually the donors are more interested to see if the program involves disabled People or not. This attitude is actually contributing to the infectiveness of CBR program. CBR is program approach should be meant for integration of the community and not limited to the involvement of PwDs only
As the news of the Program travels from family to family and village to village and place to place it is expected that the impact could result on changing the social attitude to handicapped of the family, the society and the nation at large. Thus I strongly believe that if any body comes forward to run the CBR program it will ensure the Process of Social Development.
Shahidul Haque (Ashoka fellow)
Founder General Secretary
SARPV-Bangladesh
Tel: 880-2- 811 9 2 71
: 880-2- 912 4 522
Fax: 880-2- 811 9 774
Email: shaque@bd.drik.net, sarpv@bangla.net
posted by Shahidul Haque at 1:33 PM
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