Principles of CBR

1. Dr. Akshay Raju Badore
MPT - CBR

2.  For effective planning, implementation and
evaluation of CBR as a strategy it should be
guided on a set of principles.
 According to Helander (1999) the following
five points can be forwarded as basic
principles…..

3. Principles
of CBR
Equality
Social
justice
Solidarity
Integration
Dignity

4. 1. Equality
 It is based on the assumption that all human beings
are of inherently equal worth, are entitled to equal
rights and share the same responsibilities.
 Being human beings having different abilities,
unique personalities do not make them unequal in
worth.
 It is a fact that peoples with disabilities in most
societies are denied equality in rights.

5.  It emphasized that there is no higher or lower
position in this relation.
 Each party has its own roles and works according
to its potency to reach the same vision that has
been decided before.
 No party should ever feel superior because it
gives the assistance, nor should a party feel
inferior because it receives the assistance.
 It must be kept in mind that upon the
completion of the program both parties must
feel satisfied.

6. 2.Social justice
 It holds the assumption that services and opportunities
provided for peoples with disabilities should be at the
disposal of all and not be reserved for a numerically small
group among them.
 It justifies that the ultimate goal is to make individualized
care, training, schooling and access to employment and
income generation available to all peoples with
disabilities.
 The program must benefit both parties.
 The implementation of the program must nit cause one
party to suffer, while the other party reaps the benefits.

7. 3. Solidarity
 The responsibility for fostering human life is
shared by all.
 Solidarity should be shown toward those
children, the elderly, and those who have a
disability among us who are dependent and
need help.
 The purpose and efforts of solidarity should be
seen as a privilege of all and not as a charity for
some.

8. 4. Integration
 All members of the society should join in the
mainstream of community life.
 Segregation of services, housing, jobs,
education, transportation and so on…. Is mainly
caused by social factors and cultural prejudice.
 Integration of peoples with disabilities in all
aspects of life will, in the larger perspective help
term to achieve friendship with and esteem by
others and attain the degree of human dignity.

9.  Authorities in the field of special need forward some basic rules in how to
integrate peoples with disabilities in the larger community.
 Here are the basic rules….
(a) Family life : Peoples with disabilities should have freedom to find
a partner, have children and set up their own family and live in their
community.
(b) Shelter : Peoples with disabilities should have shelter and be able to
move about freely at home and in their surrounding.
(c) Food : They should be breast fed and should have a faire share of
their family food.
(d) Schooling : As a child with disability, they should go to school with
in the non disabled.

10. (e)Education and training : Children with
disability should get the opportunities for education
and training that they need in order to proper
themselves to work and live independently.
(f) Leisure time : Peoples with disabilities should be
free to join others on social, cultural and religious
occasions.
(g) Public services : Different public services
should be accessible to all peoples. For example road
and public transport should be designed in such a way
to let access of peoples with disabilities.

11. (h) Economic opportunities : People with
disabilities should have the same opportunities
to work as other people and any loss of income
cause by their disability should be compensate.
(i) Political participation : People with
disabilities should be allowed to vote and to
participate in government as other citizens do.
Their voice should be heard in matters of
concern.

12. 5. Dignity
Quality that earns or deserves respect
It holds the assumption that all peoples with
disabilities should live a life in dignity.
In addition to the above explained principles,
the world program of Action for Peoples with
Disabilities forwarded the following issues as
important principles of community based
rehabilitation.

13. (A) Empowerment :
 Refers to an attainment of set of essential
rights such as the right to live normal patterns
of life with in the community, be treated as
individuals and receive additional support and
professional services from the community.
 It is an on-going process that comes through
working with peoples with disabilities and their
families as well as other community members.
 It begins with a transfer of knowledge through
awareness creation.

14. (B)Participation
 As a principle of community development program, CBR
emphasizes the participation of peoples with disabilities,
local governments and others in the planning,
implementation and evaluation of CBR activities.
 Under this principle, it underscores that true change and
development can only emerge through active
participation of the affected community, not through the
good will of others working for them.
 The involvement of peoples with disabilities and their
families in the planning and decision making in matters
affecting their lives facilitates the incorporation of the felt
needs and priorities and concerns of peoples with
disabilities during program design.

15. (C)Use of ordinary structure :
 Peoples with disabilities should receive the assistance
they deserve for their needs within the ordinary
structures of education, health, social services etc.
available at the community level.
 Thus, they share an ordinary life within and a long
with other members of the community, which is the
basis for developing sense of identity.
 It is generally believed that rehabilitating peoples with
disabilities using ordinary structures available at the
community level reduces over head costs, make CBR
cost-effective unlike the major problems common to
the institution based rehabilitation.

16. (D)Contribution :
 With the right type of assistance by the community, most
peoples with disabilities are believed to become economic
self-reliant and make meaningful contribution to their
families and to community at large.
 All peoples, whether they have disabilities or not, need
enabling measures through education, training,
employment and many other social services to achieve
self-reliance and to contribute their part.
 CBR requires motivating local communities, people with
disabilities, their families and friends to mobilize their own
resources ( human, material and finance) and take part in
rehabilitation training.