C o m m u n i t y   B a s e d   R e h a b i l i t a t i o n   ( C B R )   A f r i c a   N e t w o r k   (CAN)
 
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1
Title: IMPROVING THE WELLBEING OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
By Daudi Kabanda

MESSAGE:
Family members with positive attitudes can improve the wellbeing of their disabled children.


INTRODUCTION
CBR program is a strategy used for the rehabilitation of disabled children. Currently there is lack of involvement to community members on the rehabilitation role of the disabled children. The article looks at what role the community can play in CBR and how family members with positive attitudes can improve the wellbeing of their children.
We believe that every child with disabilities is a child first. They are unique in their abilities and their potential and equal in their right to education, recreation and rehabilitation. Families can involve disabled children in daily home activities, indoor games, outdoor games and economic activities. This will improve the children’s wellbeing and will also create awareness for community members about the role they can play in rehabilitation activities.


The CBR program staff working together with government leaders, especially, social welfare officers can increase awareness and knowledge about disability issues in the community and among policy makers to promote the wellbeing of disabled children. For example, they can encourage family members to provide education for disabled children by sending them to Sunday school, nursery school and Madrasa school. This will improve the knowledge capacity, life standard and economic prospects of the children.

In addition, families can organize play groups for disabled children where they can socialize with non-disabled children. This will promote their wellbeing by building good relations with non-disabled children and with each other.
Also the CBR strategy is to increase disability information as a preventive measure and improve public attitudes towards disability. This supports the rehabilitation of children with disability as a basis for education or training and long-term social integration. CBR has a major role for the rehabilitation of children with disabilities. In order to achieve our program objectives, project implementer must do the following:
• To create awareness to local leaders and family members to take disabled children to school.
• To disseminate information about disability to the community, government leaders and policy makers play a role on advocacy, lobbying and to enhance the capacity of health and education professional.

CONCLUSION
If there is collaboration among the stake holders like Health, Education and Welfare Officers, they can encourage families to develop positive attitudes towards their disabled children. This will promote the wellbeing of the children and bring positive developments for rehabilitation of disabled children

 
 
UPCOMING EVENTS

NEW!!!!
The 5th conference South Asian CBR Network organised between 5th to 7th October 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Read more

The Next CBR Africa conference 2010 will be held in Abuja Nigeria, under the theme 'DISABILITY, REHABILITATION AND CBR: BRIDGING GAPS TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS'

COURSES

NEW!!!!
CBR Training programmes in The Netherlands, Ethiopia and Nepal between September 2009 and March 2010. Read more

Disability and Development 4 Week Module between 23rd Nov 2009 - 19th Dec 2009 at the VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
.
Read more 

CBR Africa Conference Resolutions 2007
CAN PUBLICATIONS

SPECIAL COMMUNICATION!!!!
No practising African Physiatrist in Sub-Saharan Africa (read more). To post comment please click here or join our discussion forum at cbrafrica.blogspot.com

NEW!!!!
We are happy to announce the release our new CBR book
'CBR: INCLUSIVE POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION' (click here for download)

A compilation of CBR Workers' Stories from accross the continent
Inside Voices

YOUR ARTICLES

Let me change your idean about people with Special Needs By Hanan Magdi 2008
Read full article

'Developing more effective training of Community Based Rehabilitation workers to promote the social inclusion of persons with disabilities By Majisi John.
Read full article

 
If you have an interesting article that you would like to share please send it to joan@afri-can.org
CARD PUBLICATIONS
Community Action Research on Disability, our sister organisation is located in CBR Section of Kyambogo University, CLICK HERE to read its publications.
COMBRA
The Community Based Rehabilitation Alliance, a sister organisation is located in Kiwanga parish in Mukono district, CLICK HERE to read more about it. For word text please click here.
 

CBR Section, Faculty of Special Needs, Kyambogo University, P.O.Box 114 Kyambogo Uganda, Tel: 0414 574462 , Email:: info@afri-can.org or grace@afr-can.org

2009 Afri-CAN. All rights reserved.