CRP has adapted its services to suit conditions which will be faced when a patient returns to the community. As the majority of Bangladeshis live in rural communities it is important to prepare patients for such an environment before returning home. In the picture above, a patient can be seen on a specially designed "low trolley" which enables her to attend to daily tasks which are done at ground level in the village, e.g. cooking. She will also be at the same level as other village inhabitants, minimising the feeling of being "different".Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)

Community based rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy within community development for the rehabilitation and equalisation of opportunities for disabled people into mainstream society.

CRP has operated a CBR programme since 1994, working in collaboration with the government Social Services Department. A total of 116 Upazilas (sub-districts) in twelve districts (Tangail, Moulvibazar, Gazipur, Narayangonj, Comilla, Manikgonj, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Dhaka) are now included. The local programme in each Upazila is owned and managed by a Upazila Action Group Implementation Committee (UAGIC). The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) acts as the chairperson and the Upazila Social Services Officer (USSO) as member secretary. Other members include representation from the local community, voluntary organisations and disabled people themselves. The CRP representative acts as the Local Action Group co-ordinator.

The programme includes:
Self Help Groups
Awareness Raising and Disability Prevention
Mobile Clinics

Self Help Groups
Self help groups have been established in areas covered by CRP's CBR programme. The purpose of the Self Help Groups is to enable disabled people to combine their skills and resources and influence their own development

The establishment of Self Help Groups was started in response to needs which were identified in discussions between CBR workers and disabled people in the community. Areas in which the participants felt marginalised or excluded included:
Access to medical services
Access to education
Accessibility to public places and transport
Availability of appropriate vocational training programmes
Availability of employment opportunities
Availability of mobility aids
Consideration of the rights of disabled people by policy makers

These problems are addressed through activities which have a strong emphasis on training and capacity building. Training is provided by CRP and other institutions. For example, CRP provides training to self help group leaders and local government officials. In this way both sides understand the needs of disabled people and can work together towards common goals.

Self Help Groups' objectives are designed to increase the sustainability of the organisations:
Economic sustainability: the training given to beneficiaries will enable them not only to live economically independent lives but also to pass on those skills to other disabled people. Promotion of equal rights encourages education and employment opportunities for beneficiaries.
Environmental sustainability: the promotion of a more accessible and enabling environment for disabled people including access to buildings and transport infrastructure is a key component of the project and links directly to both economic and social sustainability goals, e.g. employment opportunities
Social sustainability: members of self help groups join together to promote equal rights and opportunities. Their joint voice is louder - and more sustainable - than individual voices.

A very effective method of awareness raising is the use of films. CRP has produced or co-produced two feature films, "Bihongo" (Freedom) and "Radio Bhai" (Radio Brother), which aim to educate the audience about disablity . The films have been shown to hundreds of thousands of people in areas covered by CRP's CBR programme. Pictured above is a scene from the film "Bihongo".Awareness and Prevention
The aim of the awareness and prevention campaign is to raise awareness within the community about disability issues and help the community to identify and best utilise the contribution disabled people can make. The awareness and prevention campaign locations are schools, colleges, bazaars, clubs, union parishads, local organisations and bus, train and launch/ferry terminals.

Mobile Clinics
Aims and objectives are:
To provide access to medical and therapy services
To provide CBR workers with a referral service
To increase awareness on disability issues
To provide financial support to disabled people from low income backgrounds
To advise on mobility aids
To advise disabled people, including members of Self Help Groups

Mobile clinics are arranged at a community location with direct assistance from the local government administration at Upazila level. A multi-disciplinary team including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and health workers are available for consultation and limited treatment.

Other CBR activities are:
Networking
Training for UAGIC members, group leaders, Local Action Group co-ordinators, CBR workers and other NGOs
Referral Services
Home Visits
Supply of Mobility Aids
Promoting Inclusive Education
Identifying those requiring vocational training
Promoting the Leadership of Disabled People
Development of Self Help Groups