2. ๏ฑDEFINITION
Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy within community development for the
rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion of all
people with disabilities.
CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of disabled people themselves, their
families and communities, and the appropriate health, education, vocational and social
services.โ
(ILO, UNESCO & WHO, 2004)
3. โข Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) was initiated by the World Health Organization
(WHO) following the Declaration of Alma-Ata in 1978
โข Promoted as a strategy to improve access to rehabilitation services for people with disabilities in low-
income and middle-income countries, by making optimum use of local resources
โข CBR facilitates access to basic needs, and at the same time promotes equal opportunities and rights
โข It is therefore a multisectoral strategy with some key principles to enable people with disabilities to
participate in the whole range of human activities
4. PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION
โข Inclusion
โข Participation
โข Empowerment
โข Equity
โข Raising awareness
โข Self โadvocacy
โข Facilitation
โข Gender sensitivity and special needs
โข Partnerships
โข Sustainability
5. โข Primary objective - Improvement of the quality of life of people
with disability / marginalized persons
โข CBR is now defined as a community development program 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 โ generation opportunities
V. Provision of long term care facilities
VI. Prevention of causes of disabilities
VII. Monitoring & Evaluation
6. CBR emphasizes the use of mainstream,
existing resources, such as health facilities,
educational institutions, community services,
and non-governmental organizations
(ILO, UNESCO & WHO, 2010).
16. The new understanding of CBR can be represented by the CBR matrix
which includes 5 major dimensions of rehabilitation:
Health, education, livelihood, social, and empowerment
(ILO, UNESCO & WHO, 2010).