UNICEF and Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR)

1. What is CBR?

"A strategy within general community development for the rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion for all children and adults with disabilities at a local level."

• ILO, UNESCO, WHO Joint Position Paper

• Persons with disabilities themselves
• Their families and the broader community
• Health, education, vocational, and social services

2. UNICEF's Mandate and Role in CBR

3. UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030

a) Community-Based Support Over Institutionalization

• Prevent family-child separation
• Strengthen family-based alternative care within the community
• End institutionalization for children with disabilities

b) Budget Commitments

• By 2025: Increase organizational budget expenditure for disability inclusion by at least 2%
• By 2030: Reach a target of 10% of total expenditure committed to disability inclusion

c) Workforce & Technical Capacity

• By 2025: All UNICEF regional offices to have at least one dedicated full-time Disability Specialist
• Progressive increase of employees with disabilities to reach 7% representation by 2030

d) Assistive Technology Systems

• A key indicator: Number of countries supported by UNICEF with improved systems for provision of assistive technology for children with disabilities (target: 30 countries)

e) Capacity Development for Frontline Workers

4. CBR and the Five Key Component Areas

5. CBR in Education - UNICEF's Focus

• The role of CBR in education is to collaborate with primary education systems to create inclusive local schools, support families in accessing education, and maintain links between home, community, and schools.
• UNESCO estimates that over 90% of children with disabilities in low-income countries are not attending school - a statistic that drives UNICEF's urgency.
• CBR programmes help:
  • Ensure children with disabilities gain access to health services and assistive devices as a first step toward school access
  • Create advocacy groups to remove discriminatory assessment barriers
  • Link regular and special schools through itinerant teachers and community volunteers
  • Promote inclusive assessment and examination methods

6. CBR in Humanitarian Contexts

• Mental Health
• HIV/AIDS
• Leprosy
• Humanitarian Crises

7. Community-Level Implementation

1. Raising awareness about disability to encourage social inclusion
2. Improving accessibility - making contact with health centres, schools, and workplaces
3. Empowering families - training parents and caregivers to support children at home
4. Building community ownership - so communities feel responsible for inclusive development, not just external agencies
5. Addressing poverty alongside disability, since the two are deeply interlinked

8. UNICEF's Partnerships in CBR

• WHO - technical lead on CBR Guidelines
• ILO - livelihood and vocational components
• UNESCO - education component
• IDDC (International Disability and Development Consortium) - NGO coalition including CBM, Handicap International, Sightsavers, Light for the World
• OHCHR - human rights framework
• IDA (International Disability Alliance) - representation of persons with disabilities
• National governments and DPOs at country level

9. CBR Guidelines (2010) - The Global Framework

1. Introductory Booklet
2. Health Component
3. Education Component
4. Livelihood Component
5. Social Component
6. Empowerment Component
7. Supplementary Booklet (Mental Health, HIV/AIDS, Leprosy, Humanitarian Crises)

10. The Shift from CBR to CBID

Summary

UNICEF in CBR - Easy Exam Notes

STEP 1: Understand the Basics First

What is CBR?

• CBR = Community Based Rehabilitation
• It is a strategy to help people with disabilities live a better life within their own community
• Started by WHO in the 1970s-80s
• Works in health, education, jobs, social life, and empowerment

What is UNICEF?

• UNICEF = United Nations Children's Fund
• Works for the rights and welfare of children worldwide
• Follows two main laws: CRC (Convention on Rights of Child) and CRPD (Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities)

STEP 2: Why Does UNICEF Work in CBR?

Key fact to remember: Over 90% of children with disabilities in low-income countries do NOT go to school.

STEP 3: UNICEF's Main Goals in CBR (Easy Points)

1. Include children with disabilities in schools, health services, and community life
2. Prevent children from being sent to institutions - keep them with family
3. Train frontline workers (teachers, nurses, community workers) to support disabled children
4. Provide assistive devices (wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc.)
5. Empower families and disabled persons to speak up for their rights
6. Remove barriers - physical, social, and attitudinal

STEP 4: UNICEF's Policy - The Big Plan (2022-2030)

Key Targets (Easy to Remember):

STEP 5: The 5 Components of CBR (The CBR Matrix)

🏥 1. HEALTH

• Access to hospitals and clinics
• Rehabilitation services
• Assistive devices (wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids)
• Early detection of disability

🏫 2. EDUCATION

• Inclusive schools for all children
• Early childhood education
• Itinerant (travelling) teachers to help disabled children
• Remove barriers to attending school

💼 3. LIVELIHOOD

• Job training and skill development
• Self-employment support
• Financial services
• Social protection schemes

🤝 4. SOCIAL

• Personal assistance
• Participation in community, culture, sports
• Access to justice
• Reduce stigma and discrimination

✊ 5. EMPOWERMENT

• Self-help groups for disabled persons
• Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs)
• Political participation
• Know your rights

Memory Trick: H-E-L-S-E (Health, Education, Livelihood, Social, Empowerment)

STEP 6: UNICEF's Role in CBR - Education Focus

• UNICEF works to make local schools inclusive (not just special schools)
• Trains community volunteers and itinerant teachers to bridge home, community, and school
• Ensures children get health care and assistive devices first so they can physically reach school
• Helps create advocacy groups to fight discrimination in exams and assessments
• Links regular schools and special schools together

STEP 7: UNICEF's CBR in Emergencies/Humanitarian Settings

• UNICEF extends CBR even in war zones, disasters, floods
• Covers: Mental health, HIV/AIDS, Leprosy, and Humanitarian crises
• Follows Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action
• Ensures disabled children are NOT forgotten during emergencies

STEP 8: Who Does UNICEF Work With? (Partners)

STEP 9: CBR Guidelines 2010 - Quick Summary

• Published by WHO + ILO + UNESCO + IDDC in 2010
• Made by 180+ experts from 300 organizations
• Has 7 booklets: Intro + Health + Education + Livelihood + Social + Empowerment + Supplementary
• Based on CRPD, ICF (International Classification of Functioning), and Social Model of Disability

STEP 10: New Concept - CBR is Now Becoming CBID

• CBID = Community Based Inclusive Development
• Broader than CBR - covers full social inclusion, not just rehabilitation
• Moves from medical model (treat the disability) to social model (fix the society)
• UNICEF supports this shift

EXAM SHORTCUTS - Quick Revision Box

One-Paragraph Answer (If asked in short):

UNICEF supports Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) to ensure children with disabilities are included in community life. UNICEF works across 5 areas - health, education, livelihood, social, and empowerment - to remove barriers faced by disabled children. Under its Disability Inclusion Policy 2022-2030, UNICEF commits to shift from institutional care to community-based support, train frontline workers, provide assistive technology, and partner with WHO, ILO, UNESCO and disability organizations. The goal is to leave no child behind, in line with the CRPD and the SDGs.