CHALLENGES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN URBAN SLUMS – COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION AS DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL

Dear All

VISION, Kadapa is going to organize National Seminar on "CONTEXTUAL CHANGES IN INDIAN SLUMS - A CRITICAL ANALYSIS" DURING 29-30TH SEPTEMBER 2011.

I have already submitted the abstract of the paper which i am going to present. The abstract is shared below as:


ABSTRACT

Key Words: Disability, Vulnerability, Poverty, Water, Sanitation, Rehabilitation, Mainstreaming, Intervention, Special Education, Livelihood Activities, Convergence, Sustainability, Quality of Life.

1.STATEMENT OF THE PROBEM: The persons with disabilities of urban slums were not mainstreamed and thus deprived services, supports, rights & development and poor living with sustainability and quality of life.

2.OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the present study with need based strategies include:
o Understanding the challenges, skills, needs and vulnerability,
o Creation of awareness for the service, benefits and rights,
o Assessment of skills & needs and
o Formulation of Community Based Rehabilitation as developmental model.

3.BACKGROUND: The persons with disabilities (PWDs) need support to compensate limitations faced due to their disability which may be physical, vision, hearing or mental condition. The extent of support varies depending upon the type and severity of disability. The persons with mental retardation (PMRs) are the most vulnerable as their needs and supports are specific. The PWDs living in urban slums do face several other challenges like: poor access with inferior quality of support in respect of water, sanitation, health, education, livelihood in addition to the consequences of their disability. Other issues includes: poor identification, poor access for services & supports, vulnerability for secondary disability & increased disability. Efforts have been made to reach the un-reached targeted group with disability. It is the known fact that water, poverty, disability and development works as cause and consequence of each other and further affects the sustainability and quality of development of the people and nation itself. This complex and dynamic vulnerability issues can be addressed through community based initiatives with convergence for holistic development. Disability is the priority challenge which needs to be addressed with professional strategies and interventions. In view of the United Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which is signed by India has brought paradigm shift in disability rehabilitation from charity to rights based strategies & interventions. The process is going on to make CBR with right based strategies and interventions with convergence from Panchayat level itself. The indications given on disability population in Censes 2011 are alarming and invite attention of stakeholders.

4.METHODS: The process of Disability Rehabilitation (DR) has been grouped into seven stages as: Awareness & Advocacy, Early Intervention, Education including Special Education, Vocational Training, Employment & Livelihood Activities, Networking and prevention. The service and support system varies depending upon type & severity of disability and their skills, needs & living environment. It is participatory with the involvement of PWDs, their parents & family members, community workers, professionals and other stakeholders with convergence. The developmental model includes the stage of identification to empowerment with life cycle approach covering social, medical and economical areas. It also includes the component of prevention and thus moves towards disability free society (DFS).

5.RESULTS: The developmental model has been implemented and tested in several parts of Andhra Pradesh through several NGOs, Parents’ Associations and other service providers. The results were effective to address & cater the needs and further improved their living with sustainability and quality of life (QOL). It also gained the confidence of PWDs, parents, community members and other stakeholders. This model is flexible and suits to the needs, skills and vulnerability of the given environment.

6.CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS: The study has resulted for better awareness in respect of their skills, needs & rights, need of early identification & intervention, impact of isolation & mainstreaming, capacity building, livelihoods with linkages and prevention of disabilities. It is recommended that NGOs and other service providers working in this area can add developmental model to address the needs of the targeted groups.
............................................

Looking forward to get reflections..

with tahnks