Definition of CBR
Community-based rehabilitation is a strategy within community development for the rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities and social integration of all people with disabilities.

CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of disabled people themselves, their families and communities, and the appropriate health, education, vocational and social services.

Concept of CBR
CBR is accepted as a comprehensive approach which encompasses disability prevention and rehabilitation in primary health care activities, integration of disabled children in ordinary school and provision of opportunities for gainful economic activities for disabled adults.

CBR promotes the right of people with disabilities to live within their communities; to enjoy health and well-being; and to participate in educational, social, cultural, religious, economic and political activities.

The objective of CBR
The objective of CBR is to ensure that people with disabilities are able to maximise their physical and mental abilities, have access to regular services and opportunities and achieve full social integration within their communities and their societies.

Methods for implementing CBR
CBR is recommended to be a programme that belongs to the community, as represented by the local government or authority. It should be considered an element of social, educational and health policy at all levels of the public sector.

In national policy, CBR is part of a country’s action in favour of all ages who have any type of disability. In provincial or district level policy, it is supported with referral services and by transfer of knowledge to communities.

At community level, the policy of integration is implemented under the control of the community, which “owns” the CBR programme and which gives a major role to people with disabilities and their families.

Methods of developing CBR:
a. The formulation and implementation of policies to support CBR;
b. The encouragement and support of communities to assume responsibility for the rehabilitation of their members who have disabilities;
c. The strengthening of rehabilitation referral services for health, education and labour at district, provincial and national levels and
d. The establishment of a system for programme management and evaluation.
The participation of disabled people in all of these activities is essential.

Formulation of a National Policy
The formulation of a national policy to support CBR may come from an external stimulus, such as the recommendations of the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons, prepared during the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons.

It may also come from pressures within the country, which can be initiated by organizations of people with disabilities, by representatives of the sectors concerned with rehabilitation, or by a combination of the two.

When a CBR policy is established at national level, it should be reflected in policy and programme priorities within all sectors and at all other levels.

Community action for CBR
a. This is often initiated by a stimulus from outside the community, most likely from the Ministry, committee or organization responsible for the programme.
b. Following initial discussions with the representatives from outside the community, it is the community that decides whether CBR will become part of its ongoing community development activities.
c. Various partners in the community, such as the community development committee, organizations of disabled people and other NGOs should be empowered to take responsibility for the programme.
Once the community initiates a CBR programme, the CBR programme management should provide the necessary support and referral services, sufficient awareness, preparation and mobilization. It is important to underline and highlight the necessity of thorough preparation at all levels.

CBR may provide the means for all disabled people in a community to be socially integrated, or it may be more limited in its achievements depending on the commitment of the community, its resources and the support services that it receives from both government and NGOs.

Sustainability of CBR
The 3 factors required for the CBR programmes to be sustainable are:
1. The articulation of a need;
2. a response from within the community indicating readiness to meet the need and
3. the availability of support from outside the community .


Extracted from 1994 Joint Position Paper by ILO; UNESCO and WHO
VIBRANT EXPRESSIONS
Celebrating Dennis and his 7 Artist friends


CBR Network Malaysia would like to congratulate and celebrate Dennis Liew and 7 other artist friends Damien Wong, Tan Seng Kit, Nurulakhmal Abdul Rahman, Nadiah Abdul Jalil Justin Leong Tern-Yee, Clement Ooi Kit Meng and Chee Siew Chong are now showcasing the talents and their artistic artworks at MaTIC (MALAYSIA TOURISM CENTRE), 109, Jalan Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 1st – 31st July 2011.

Credit also goes to MaTIC, United Voice and Ministry of Tourism Malaysia for empowering and providing opportunities to talented persons with disability.

Dennis Liew, aged 25 is a friend of CBR Network Malaysia. He covered the Asia-Pacific Convention 13th-15th Nov 2010, held at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the pictures he took can be as seen from the slides in CBR Network’s blog. He is a graduate in Graphic Design from Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design by Curtin University in 2008. He is a graphic designer by profession.

Dennis, diagnosed as a person with Asperger Syndrome has great family support especially from his mum Pat. He travels widely and is able to excel in things he enjoys like photography, drawing and painting (including Chinese brush painting). Dennis likes history and anything Japanese so it is not a wonder that he speaks the language too. You can get a glimpse of his work in his blog http://houseofdennis.blogspot.com/ and his other friends from the websites below.


Websites:

http://www.clementooi.net/
http://www.tansengkit.com/
http://www.damienwong.com/

2nd Asia-Pacific Congress, November 29 – December 01, 2011, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila, Philippines

This is to inform all our friends that Philippines will be holding the 2nd Asia-Pacific Congress as above. CBR Network Malaysia committee members will be there and would like to see, meet our partners (old and new) and friends at the 2nd Asia-Pacific Congress.

Theme: CBR: Building Communities for Everyone

Sub-Theme: Mainstreaming Disability in the Development Agenda

Objectives:

1. To promote multi-sectoral partnerships for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD), Millennium Development Goals (MGD) and other development initiatives.

2. To share good practices of CBR for inclusive development in the Asia Pacific Region.

3. To promote participation in the CBR Asia Pacific Region.

4. To explore the possibilities of forming the CBR Global Network.

The 1st Asia-Pacific Congress in Thailand in 2009 and followed by the 1st Asia Pacific CBR Convention in 2010 in Kuala Lumpur. For those who are interested to attend, please log in and register at http://www.cbrcongress.com/ also check out http://www.ncda.gov.ph/2010/12/2nd-asia-pacific-cbr-congress/

Asia-Pacific Convention
13th-15th Nov 2010,
Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

It was successfully organized, and we hope for more success in Philippine, next year.

Here's selected pictures throughout the programme.

Preparation - 12th Nov 2010



Day 1 - 13th Nov 2010



Day 2 - 14th Nov 2010



Day 3 - 14th Nov 2010

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is a registered NGO (0750-90-WKL). Registered on the 27th April 2009 under the name Persatuan Pusat Jaringan Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti Malaysia (Association of Community Based Rehabilitation Network Centre Malaysia). As of the 6th November 2009, our application to be known as "CBR NETWORK MALAYSIA" was officially accepted. Our Vision is to integrate Persons with Disabilities into society through employment, social, recreation and sustainable independent living. Our Mission: Concern, recognizing, realizing, emphasizing and convincing the community of the potentials of PWDs.