Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy within community development for the

rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities and social integration of all people with

disabilities (UN definition). It focuses on enhancing the quality of life for people with
disabilities and their families, meeting basic needs and ensuring inclusion and participation.
CBR was initiated in the mid-1980s but has evolved to become a multi-sectoral strategy that
empowers persons with disabilities to access and benefit from education, employment, health
and social services. CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of people with
disabilities, their families, organizations and communities, relevant government and non-
government health, education, vocational, social and other services.

The objectives of CBR include:

• Supporting people with disabilities to maximize their physical and mental abilities to
access regular services and opportunities, and to become active contributors to the
community and society at large.

• Activating communities to promote and protect the human rights of people with
disabilities for example by removing barriers to participation.

• Facilitating capacity building, empowerment and community mobilization of people

with disabilities and their families.

• To give awareness to the community that people with disabilities need help.

• To provide knowledge, awareness to rehabilitation of people with disabilities, family

members and close relatives in the rehabilitation

• drawing closer to recovery and early intervention services for disabled persons at the
community level

• Reduce long-term placements that cause the disabilities been omitted or removed from
the family and community

• Provide opportunities for the disabled to develop abilities and skills according to their
potential through existing resources

• Enables social integration of disabled people to reduce barriers of physical, social,

cultural and psychological that may exist between members of the community and the
disabled

• To encourage the use of effective rehabilitation techniques are accepted by society,

according to local conditions and capabilities