OR as a necessary but insufficient condition for ‘real’ CBR?

5.2OR as a necessary but insufficient condition for ‘real’ CBR?

To assess the necessity and sufficiency of OR as rehabilitation services, let’s first draw our attention to the following figures (see Figure 13, Figure 14 and Figure 15) which aim at establishing a better view on different relationship levels existing in all the three rehabilitation strategies.

Reflecting upon the relationship model in IBR services and the transformation made through the expansion of OR services, there is a significant shift in the establishment of relationship between organisation and community. Organisation is no longer distancing itself from community by providing the services in the community. Although OR services are mainly done by the organisation and the degree of community participation is only to the level of the family and parents’ participation, this marks a necessary step in further transformation.

Figure 13 The relationship model in IBR services

Figure 14 The relationship model in OR services

The ideal is to have the ‘merge’ in term of the relationship between community and children with disabilities. In other word, they are no longer two separate parts in society because inclusive society means the community is inclusive of children or persons with disabilities. The relationship model in CBR services as illustrated below (see Figure 15) becomes the ideal model for the rehabilitation services. In this regard, the possibility or potential of shifting from OR model to this ideal CBR model becomes more feasible. The shift from IBR relationship model to OR relationship model facilitate the integration of children with disabilities in their own community to a certain extent. This integration may be a catalyst for the development of the inclusive CBR oriented community. But the absence of ‘real’ CBR in our data, suggests this further development faces great challenges.

Figure 15 The relationship model in CBR services



Source: own construction

Reflecting on this aspect, SLF with the on-going development of the new monitoring and evaluation (M&E) has integrated the element for this transformational shift. In the new document which stated the organisation’s objectives at different level (version November 2008 – unpublished), the organisation’s specific objective is ‘Children with disability are more integrated in society’. The following are the indicators to measure this outcome:

• 
  The child (> 5 years)/ the youngster (all in accordance with age and ability of the child/ youngster) receives education (formal/ informal), has a job/ IGP, has another daily programme
  
• 
  The child participates (counts) in social activities within the family
  
• 
  The child participates in social activities outside the family
  

Furthermore, in the elaboration of the operational objectives of the organisation the participation of parents is also highlighted as another key output to the support the organisation is committed to.

The shift made by donor organisation like SLF can encourage important changes at national and local level. However, the challenge lies in the local organisations willingness to change. The ability of donor organisation to encourage local organisations to take part in an empowering participatory process to review the on-going practice and the challenges might reduce the resistance to change and facilitate a greater ownership.

5.3Constraints on the quantities and forms of resources available for an ‘ideal’ CBR approach in disability focused agencies

The other constraint is in the principle underlying the intervention. Most of disability focused agencies work within specific sector, e.g. health only or education only or vocational training/ income generating sector only. It is rarely found that a disability focused agency would work on all aspects. If it does than it will be done with the resources being spread thinly and reach only certain number of beneficiaries.

Furthermore, there is the issue of outcome of the intervention. The engagement of a disability focused agency often need to be followed up in community as in many cases the assistance only take place on certain regularity but not in day to day basis. This can be another constraint in terms of ensuring on-going support to parents and family to help the process of maintaining progress on day to day basis and ensure maximum development of their disabled child.