Community-based Rehabilitation Approaches for Family Caregivers and People Who Support Adults and Children with Disabilities

Description

Presents two-day trainings in Liberia that teach individuals with disabilities, family members, and community volunteers about community-based rehabilitation (CBR) methods and the rights of people with disabilities in the Liberian context. ICI, Zambian home-based special education expert Mikala Mukongolwa, and the Catholic Diocese of Monrovia and Gbarnga in Liberia, are combining resources to strengthen CBR in Liberia.

The World Health Organization and UNESCO recognize CBR as a model for community rehabilitation and provision of therapeutic supports to people with disabilities in remote and rural indigenous communities. Supports in Liberia are centralized, obligating family caregivers to travel long distances - often on foot - to rural health centers, but CBR builds local volunteer networks to support people with disabilities in their own communities. This means services and supports that improve their overall functioning and quality of life (e.g., mobility, special education, employment). CBR promotes equal opportunity and the social inclusion of people with disabilities.

This project builds on connections and experiences developed by ICI staff through earlier work in Zambia doing CBR training with people with disabilities, family members, community leaders, and people from faith-based organizations. The goal is to seek additional funding and replicate the work ICI has done in Zambia using the CBR or home-based education model in Liberia.

This project was archived on 12/21/2021

Contact
Macdonald M Metzger
Director
Macdonald M Metzger
Funder
College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota

Staff

Macdonald M Metzger :: Director of Outreach and Engagement


Topics

  • Community life
    • Civil rights
    • Community supports and services
    • Social inclusion
  • Culture and diversity
    • International initiatives

Activities

  • Training and professional development
  • Technical assistance
  • Outreach