Community based rehabilitation (CBR) has been defined as “a strategy within general community development for rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities and social inclusion of all people with disabilities.” (Joint Position Paper from ILO, UNESCO, and WHO, 2004).

CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of people with disabilities themselves, their families and communities, and the appropriate heath, education, vocational, and social services.

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) supports the development of CBR as a means of empowering people with disabilities to maximise their physical, mental and social abilities. It recognises that community change is often necessary to promote and fulfil the human rights of people with disabilities to become active participating members of their communities.  The WCPT recognises that CBR extends beyond health and encompasses domains such as educational, social, vocational and economic rehabilitation. Inter-agency, cross-sectoral and multi-professional collaboration at all levels is vital in supporting this comprehensive approach to rehabilitation. Health professionals work with local communities and individuals as partners involved in service planning, operation and monitoring.

Physical therapists are equipped to work in both urban and rural settings and have an important contribution to make in CBR:

• By providing interventions aimed at health promotion, disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation
• By educating and transferring skills to other staff, carers and the community to achieve the fulfilment of physical therapy and patient/client goals
• Through consultancy, advice, support and supervision to other health, education and social care/service personnel
• As initiators and managers of programmes
• As policy advisers to Governments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs)

Physical therapists are prepared to fulfil these roles through education and continuing professional development opportunities.

The WCPT calls on national governments and non-governmental organisations to ensure integration in policy development to support CBR. It further calls for equal status to be conferred on those who work in rural communities with those based in urban institutions.

Download Position Statement: Community Based Rehabilitation

Reference

International Labour Organization, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, World Health Organization. CBR : a strategy for rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion of people with disabilities : joint position paper. Geneva, Switzerland, 2004.