Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and Accessibility

1
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and
Accessibility
1st Asia-Pacific CBR Congress, Bangkok Feb 19,
2009 Session B2 15.30-17.00

• C. Mahesh
• CBR Forum

2
CBR and Accessibility

• This presentation is based on the work of CBR
  Forum and our partner NGOs
• However, this presentation may not cover all
  aspects of access

3
Highlight of this presentation

• This presentation focuses on Article 9
  Accessibility of CRPD - Living Independently and
  Being Included in the Community
• Highlights some of the barriers faced by persons
  with disabilities in rural areas
• Practices/ strategies adopted by CBR programmes
  in catalyzing change

4
CBR Forum, Bangalore, India

• Established in 1996 (12 Years ago), engaged in
  promoting CBR in remote/ rural/ least served
  areas
• Our purpose is to work with
• all Persons with Disabilities, their families,
  communities, organizations and institutions
• on empowerment and inclusion of Persons with
  Disabilities
• by facilitating disabled peoples organizations
• to address the gaps that exist at various levels
• Currently we are working in partnership with over
  80 Partner NGOs in 17 states, reaching out to
  approximately 40,000 Persons with Disabilities

5
The major Barriers to Access are

• Attitudinal Barriers - Family/ Community
• Physical Barriers in the internal and external
  environment
• Availability of Information/ Communication in
  accessible formats
• Institutional Barriers E.g. Rules/ Practices of
  educational/ financial institutions, barriers in
  accessing social security schemes such as
  Employment Guarantee/ Poverty alleviation
  Programmes

6
Among persons with disabilities, the rules are
not the same
Gender, age and the type of impairment are
factors that directly influence level of access
7
Accessible Environment means -

• Creating and maintaining environments in which
  people can participate
• In a dignified way
• With maximum independence and
• In an environment that is Safe and Affordable

8
Following are Some Experiences from the community
9
Access within/ outside the house is limited for a
majority of persons with disabilities
10
There are instances where houses have been
adapted to promote greater independence
11
There are instances where houses have been
adapted to promote greater independence
12
Non-Availability of Appropriate Rehabilitation
Services further restricts/ limits access and
affects self esteem
13
Shared/ Public Transport most often is not
available for persons with disabilities
14
Despite much advancements, the humble Tricycle/
bamboo stick is the only available resource that
fuels independent living for the poor in rural
areas
15
Systems at Block Development Office where persons
with disabilities have to go for their social
security benefits are often insensitive
16
Lack of Access Leading to DependencyFor greater
accountability payments of social security
schemes are routed through the Banks, however a
majority of the banks are inaccessible. Eg. In
Lohardaga, Jharkhand, the only bank in the entire
district is in the first floor
17
Education for All Campaign has resulted in
greater access for children with disabilities to
Primary Education
18
Due to limited access to secondary/ higher
education/ vocational skills persons
withdisabilities have limited or no sustainable
livelihood
19
In some Cities/ Towns, innovations in private
transport such as the Modified Scooters/ Bikes
have greatly enhanced mobility and changed lives
20
Access in Hilly terrain is a major challengeCBR
Programme in Aizawl, Mizoram
21
Solutions that have worked and being tried in CBR
22
Organising persons with disabilities at various
level and developing critical thinking
23
Making use of the Laws/ Policies/ Guidelines

• CPWD Guidelines and Space Standards for
  Barrier-Free Built Environment in1998
• Persons with Disabilities Act 1996
• Chapter VIII, (sections 44 to 46) -
  Non-discrimination - transport/ environment -
  within economic capacity
• National Building Code (NBC 2005)
• Bureau of Indian Standards - for all
  construction
• Annex D Clause 12.21 Special Requirements for
  Planning of Public Buildings Meant for use of
  Physically Challenged
• 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12)
• 3 Annual Outlay of all Dept./ Ministries for
  PWDs
• Setting up - National Institute of Universal
  Design
• Amending building bye-laws across the country
• India Signing and Ratifying UNCRPD

24
Enabling/ Ensuring Persons with Disabilities
speak up for their Rights through Block Level
Advocacy Programmes
25
Dialoging with Govt. Officials by the DPOs
26
Getting the support from the media
27
When local DPOs have demanded, barriers to access
have been removed

• Some examples
• Enrolment of children with disabilities in Govt.
  school and provision of appropriate support in
  the school
• Home based education
• Change of class room to ground floor
• Employment for persons with disabilities under
  National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme
• Demanding and Ensuring barrier free access in
  primary schools, Block Development/ Dist.
  Collectors Office, Health Centres
• District authorities scheduling one day in a
  month to address grievances of persons with
  disabilities

28
To conclude In a CBR Programme, a lot can be
achieved when

• We believe in the abilities of poor persons with
  disabilities
• Persons with disabilities from the local
  community are in the forefront of all advocacy
  and lobbying actions
• By building a vibrant disabled peoples
  organisation at various levels starting from the
  village
• By being optimistic
• By collective actions
• By framing the demand and taking up actions
  within the legal framework

29
Thank you

• Namaste

30
For further details or information please
contact

• C. Mahesh
• Advocacy Coordinator
• CBR Forum
• 14, C.K Garden, Wheelers Road Extn.,
• St. Thomas Town Post, Bangalore 560 084
• Tel [phone]
• advocacy.cbrforum_at_gmail.com
• admin_at_cbrforum.in
• www.cbrforum.in