PROTOCOL: Community‐Based Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries

Abstract

People with disabilities (PWD) therefore include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments resulting from any physical or mental health conditions which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others (UN 2008). Effective interventions therefore need to be identified that will enhance participation in society by PWD and thereby enforce the convention. 1.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERVENTION The UN Convention states that comprehensive rehabilitation services including health, employment, education and social services are needed ‘to enable PWD to attain and maintain maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational ability, and full inclusion and participation in all aspects of life’ (UN 2008). The concept was firstly introduced in an unpublished WHO report in 1976 (WHO 1976; Finkenflugel 2004) as a promising strategy to provide rehabilitation for people with disability in developing countries and part of the broader goal of reach ‘Health for All by the year 2000‘ (WHO 1978). Since the first training manual published in 1980 ( Helander 1980) and updated in 1989 ( Helander 1989), the concept has evolved to become a multi-sectoral strategy. A CBR programme is formed by one or more activities in one or more of the five components. [...]a CBR programme is not expected to implement every component of the CBR matrix, and not all PWD require assistance in each component of the matrix.