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
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