Building an inclusive society
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© CBM / Argum / Einberger
Integrated education in Coimbatore, India - Karthik (centre) in the classroom
Our Approach
CBM, together with its partners has addressed the most urgent needs and initiated new means of service delivery and inclusion for their target group.
Mainstreaming disability
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©CBM / Argum / Einberger
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Low vision boy Karthik standing with girl by blackboard
CBM helps mainstream disability:
- By supporting, guiding, monitoring, evaluating and providing counsel to over 173 Partner NGOs. These comprise of ophthalmologists, paramedics, hospital administrators, teachers, trainers, resource persons, grass root level field workers and others, in the areas of medical, educational and vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities thereby improving the quality of life.
- By networking with other INGO and the Government policy-making bodies.
- In consultation with the regional office national and international cadre of advisers/consultants/trainers who come recommended with a high sense of professional expertise in their respective fields.
Strategic focus areas
Using our experience of working with partners, governments and communities, CBM in India has identified five strategic focus areas where the above-mentioned goals are covered thematically:
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)
We believe, where possible, in participation of the person with the disability.
We reach to the poor in rural and urban areas through cost effective interventions in health, education, livelihood, social protection, empowerment and employment.
There is a shift from the institution-based care to community based rehabilitation services. Trained CBR workers offer individual care and strengthen Disabled People’s Organisation (DPOs), Parent Groups and Self help Groups (SHGs).
Education
We advocate for an Inclusive Education system that is not a separate program in schools, but a user-friendly concept with an accessible environment that benefits all children.
A drastic change and more technical support are needed for children with low vision in order to increase their admission in mainstream schools.
Health Care Service
One major field of activity is medical services in specified sectors, for example VISION 2020 to prevent blindness or SOUND HEARING 2030 for early detection of hearing loss and to provide affordable hearing aid.
Through our partners we ensure a quality of service delivery to prevent avoidable disabilities and to cater to the needs of persons with disabilities.
The strategy is to strengthen existing health care structures and develop new systems that we can share with other stakeholders as replicable models. We give priority to an improving health seeking behaviour of the communities for prevention of disabilities or rehabilitation.
Livelihood
Responding to the needs of persons with disabilities, livelihood is most crucial:
- The socio-economic situation needs a structural shift with persons with disabilities earning a living and contribute to the income of their families.
- A growing slum population in the cities with migration of families is one more future challenge.
So far the employment rate among persons with disabilities is low and our goal is to raise awareness and increase their employability.
Lack of social security for persons with disabilities and their families adds to their vulnerability and needs be addressed.
Inclusion/ Accessibility
The challenges in day-to-day life of persons with disabilities need to be continuously and urgently taken up. So far development activities are not designed inclusive and we at CBM have our focus on mainstreaming the rights and needs of persons with disabilities in all strategic areas of development work.
We promote Inclusion for All, because we can serve the community and reduce poverty only if we take into account all relevant issues of development.
Barrier free Environment is declared in the “Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995” and the Ministry of Urban Development is the Nodal Agency to implement it, but accessible environment is still an exceptional case. We advocate for access to the built environment, especially to all public spaces.
Barrier free Environment is declared in the “Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995” and the Ministry of Urban Development is the Nodal Agency to implement it, but accessible environment is still an exceptional case. We advocate for access to the built environment, especially to all public spaces.
