2006-01-11 6:00 pm

UNESCO, in cooperation with its main partners, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), participated in the revision of the Guidelines for Community Based Rehabilitation during three workshops, held in Geneva in December 2005.

The revision of the CBR-Guidelines was necessitated by the fact that the current Guidelines were published over 25 years ago and are still based on the medical model of disability, which is no longer consistent with modern global thinking. The new CBR-Guidelines were elaborated during three workshops held in Geneva. The participants, made up of international agencies and NGOs, have identified 5 core areas to be addressed: Health, Education, Livelihood, Empowerment and Social issues.

The responsibility of ensuring the right to education for all school-aged children remains mainly on education systems. However, communities are essential partners because this is where children and their families live and where inclusive schools - open to all children – have a chance to develop and flourish. Cooperation with communities therefore makes efforts to ensure inclusiveness in education more sustainable. Community workers, who form the core of the CBR program, are people at the grassroots level who mobilize communities to ensure that all school-aged children are learning.

CBR as a strategy for rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion of people with disabilities is a useful tool for reaching Education for All (EFA). Children with multiple or severe disabilities who require extensive additional support may be taught within special units in schools, depending on the existing level of external support provided by communities, including together with health and social entities. Special schools, which are important partners within the school system, may serve as valuable resources for regular schools in promoting inclusive education.

The new CBR-Guidelines will contain examples of good evidence-based practice to help practitioners build on the positive experience of others and adapt practice to their local communities. The guidelines will be produced in accessible formats and plain language. They will be available in various languages, in Braille, on audiocassette and as electronic format. The new CBR-Guidelines will be available by July 2006.

For further information please contact r.wabuge-mwangi@unesco.org