The World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and IDDC – notably CBM, Handicap International, the Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau, Light for the World, the Norwegian Association of Disabled and Sightsavers – have worked closely together to develop the Community-based rehabilitation guidelines. More than 180 individuals and representatives of nearly 300 organizations, mostly from low-income and middle-income countries around the world, have been involved in their development.
The Guidelines, published in 2010, promote Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) as a strategy that not only contributes to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Legislation on the issue of disability inclusion, but which also supports Community-Based Inclusive Development. The Guidelines provide CBR managers with, among else, practical suggestions on how to develop and strengthen CBR programs, and ensure that people with disabilities and their family members can enjoy the benefits of accessing health, education, livelihood and social inclusion.
The Guidelines:
- Provide guidance on how to develop and strengthen CBR programmes;
- Promote CBR as a strategy for community-based development involving people with disabilities;
- Support stakeholders to meet the basic needs and enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families;
- Encourage the empowerment of people with disabilities and their families.
The Community-based rehabilitation guidelines
The Guidelines are made up of 7 Booklets:
- Introductory Booklet
- Health component
- Educational component
- Livelihood component
- Social component
- Empowerment component
- Supplementary Booklet (Mental Health, HIV / AIDS, Leprosy, Humanitarian Crises)
You can find all guidelines (by components, in full), the CBR matrix and link to Audio MP3 on WHO’s dedicated webpage
Introductory Booklet
The 10 page summary of CBR is an excellent document for those who would like to get a quick introduction to the new CBR guidelines and the key aspects of implementing a CBR program.
Read the Introductory Booklet in English
Read the Introductory Booklet in French
Read the Introductory Booklet in Spanish