Community-based rehabilitation

Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy within general community development which aims to deliver rehabilitation services in less developed countries. CBR programmes see the need to change attitudes and behaviour and promote social inclusion, to make services accessible and remove barriers to equalization of opportunities. While some approaches focus on rehabilitation through a medical perspective, it is becoming more common for CBR programmes to follow the social model of disability.

This key list mainly deals with resources relating to the needs of people who do not receive basic rehabilitation services. We welcome your suggestions: please send comments or suggested additions to sourceassistant@hi-uk.org.

Selected resources

Introductory resources

CBR : a strategy for rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion of people with disabilities - joint position paper 2004

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
et al
2004

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In 1994 the ILO, WHO and UNESCO published the first version of this joint position paper. Since then progress has been made in several fields. Nevertheless many disabled people are still not reached or included in the fields of rehabilitation, employment or education - particularly disabled women, people with mental health problems or HIV/AIDS and poor disabled people.
This paper underlines that community-based rehabilitation is a strategy promoting multi-sectoral collaboration to reach different community groups. CBR has to be based on the principles of equal opportunities, participation and human rights.

Community-based rehabilitation and the health care referral services : a guide for programme managers

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
1994

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This guide describes community-based rehabilitation (CBR) activities as managed by the health care sector. In countries where another sector has responsibility for CBR, the Ministry of Health manages only the rehabilitation services that are part of the health sector, though it may also participates in inter-sectoral CBR activities. The information in this guide is intended for use by rehabilitation management personnel in both of these situations. It is a must for planners of CBR projects. 'Mid-level rehabilitation workers' and their training are also mentioned

Equal opportunities for all : promoting community-based rehabilitation (CBR) among urban poor populations. Initiating and sustaining CBR in urban slums and low-income groups

ASSOCIATION AMICI DI RAOUL FOLLEREAU (AIFO)
October 2001

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Most CBR experience has come from rural areas in developing countries. However, even in large cities specific population groups - such as people living in slums or low-income areas in the urban peripheries - may face difficulties in accessing rehabilitation services. To address this, the World Health Organization set up a number of pilot consultations and projects in seven countries (Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Brazil, Bolivia, Egypt and Kenya) in 1995. This document gives a report of a final meeting of representatives of these pilot projects.

CBR experiences

CBR matrix and perceived training needs of CBR workers : a multi-country study

DEEPAK, Sunil
et al
2011

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"This study shows that CBR Matrix can be a useful framework to understand field-level activities in CBR projects. The study has identified a number of priority learning needs, in terms of different domains of CBR Matrix, and in terms of different disabilities. It also shows that globally, areas related to advocacy, lobbying, legal protection and rights-based approach, are the most important learning needs identified by CBR workers"
Disability, CBR and Inclusive Development, Vol 22, No 1

Hopeful steps

GUYANA COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

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This website describes a community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programme in Guyana that is supported by the Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO), an Italian development organisation. Among other resources, it contains a catalogue of videos that are useful in the field

Impact of CBR : impact of community-based rehabilitation programme in Karnataka India

BIGGERI, Mario
et al
2012

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"The main goal of the research was to understand and measure the overall role and impact of CBR in improving the quality of life of persons with different types of impairments, as well as different demographic, social and economic backgrounds. We therefore investigated the effectiveness of CBR programmes in improving the control that persons with disabilities have over their daily lives, their participation in different aspects of community life (i.e. combating stigma and prejudice) and their access to various services over the five domains of the CBR matrix (health, education, livelihood, social and empowerment)"

Inclusion through community based rehabilitation : lessons learned in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia & Mozambique 2009 - 2011

LIGHT FOR THE WORLD
2012

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"The LIGHT FOR THE WORLD Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Framework brought together 14 CBR projects in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Mozambique between 2009 and 2011 to share experiences and learning. This report reflects the experiences of the projects during this period and the lessons learned that can provide invaluable learning for other CBR projects. It also provides a useful record of the projects’ activities and outcomes, and enables future planning"

International consultation to review community-based rehabilitation (CBR)

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
2003

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This document summarises the outcomes of the international consultation. The main conclusions were that human rights play a role in CBR, CBR has to be supported by national governments, various sectors have to cooperate and that UN agencies, governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have to promote CBR as a poverty re-education strategy

International workshop in CBR and persons with intellectual disabilities

ITALIAN ASSOCIATION AMICI DI RAOUL FOLLEREAU (AIFO)

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This website presents resources, images and related information from the International workshop on community-based rehabilitation (CBR) and persons with intellectual or learning disabilities on the occasion of the the First World CBR Congress. The workshop report and presentations are available in pdf format
"CBR and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities"
Agra, India
24-25 November 2012

Linking CBR, disability and rehabilitation

MUSOKE, Grace
GEISER, Priscille
Eds
2013

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This 4th book in the series can be used as a basis for future action throughout the African continent. The content provides an overview of present day CBR knowledge, and also details how this information has been interpreted and implemented in the African context. The writers are predominantly of African origin and provide insightful views of the dynamic nature of CBR and its capacity to respond to contextually different challenges. Examples are provided from their own CBR experiences and case studies of their programmes, highlighting the problems they face and how they were overcome

The content of this book has been developed from conference presentations and discussions, and some chapters have been reinforced with additional information from discussions or relevant literature. The end of each chapter provides references to the academic literature used by the authors

4th CBR Africa Conference

Abuja, Nigeria

26th-29th October 2010

Manuals

CBR : a participatory strategy in Africa

HARTLEY, Sally
Ed
2002

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This resource provides an important contribution and understanding of how community-based rehabilitation (CBR) operates in Africa. It contains the experiences and reflections of key stakeholders within CBR from 14 African countries. It will contribute to a more mutual and holistic understanding of the concept of CBR and bring about the development of new initiatives. This book is useful tool for CBR planners, policy-makers and managers

CBR policy development and implementation

HARTLEY, Sally
OKUNE, Joan
Eds
2009

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This book provides an overview of current community-based rehabilitation (CBR) knowledge and shows how this information has been interpreted and implemented in the African context. It has been developed from conference presentations and discussions that took place in South Africa in 2007. It is useful for people interested in general CBR information and CBR in Africa

Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)

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Many resources related to community-based rehabilitation (CBR) are presented on this site, which is structured into the following sections: CBR websites, CBR-related websites, CBR books, CBR academic programs, CBR non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The site is maintained by a disabled person with post-graduate qualifications in rehabilitation who has worked in the disabilities field in the USA

Community-based rehabilitation : CBR guidelines

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
et al
2010

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These guidelines provide an overview of key CBR concepts, indentify goals and outcomes that CBR programmes should be working towards, and provide suggested activities to achieve these goals. The guidelines are presented in seven separate booklets: Introductory booklet, Health component, Education component, Livelihood component, Social component, Empowerment component and Supplementary booklet. This resource is useful for people interested in inclusive community-based development for people with disabilities
Note: Links are provided to the CBR Matrix and MP3 audio files

Disability-inclusive development toolkit

AL JU’BEH, Kathy
January 2015

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This toolkit is designed as a resource for CBM that can be used in a variety of ways: to support staff induction, team meetings, refresher days and training workshops. It can also be used as a tool for personal reflection and self-study. Tips for those intending to use it as a training resource are shaded differently.

 

The toolkit is presented in four main chapters targeting different audiences. Chapter 1: DID an introduction; Chapter 2: DID for managers; Chapter 3: DID for programme staff; Chapter 4: Inclusive training and facilitation. The content of the four chapters can be combined and adapted as needed. The materials can be used flexibly and are not intended to be prescriptive. They are primarily intended for use by CBM staff and highlight CBM guidelines and reference documents. They are intended to give CBM staff and partners more confidence in applying disability inclusion in their work

and speaking with one voice.

 

Each chapter includes links to signpost other reliable resources/ websites and portals where people can find further relevant information, both external links for all users and internal links for CBM employees only. A glossary of key terms is also presented at the end in alphabetical order to aid understanding and clarity on key terms used throughout the DID toolkit

Improving our CBR [whole issue]

HEALTHLINK WORLDWIDE
Ed
1998

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This is a particularly useful guide to the monitoring and evaluation of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes for CBR managers

Promoting empowerment|Emancipatory research in community-based rehabilitation programmes : a guide for CBR programmes managers

DEEPAK, Sunil
2012

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This practical guide is written for organizations and persons involved in CBR projects. It is also targeted at DPOs, especially those working at community and peripheral levels. The information provides a straight forward guide for people working in CBR programmes to carry out simple emancipatory research (ER). Examples are provided from successful ER projects. This resource is useful to anyone interested in ER in community-based rehabilitation programmes

Practical newsletters

Improving our CBR [whole issue]

HEALTHLINK WORLDWIDE
Ed
1998

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This is a particularly useful guide to the monitoring and evaluation of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes for CBR managers