Do community-based rehabilitation programmes promote the participation of persons with disabilities? A case control study from Mandya District, in India.

PURPOSE

In this paper, we measure the effectiveness of Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programmes in promoting the well-being of people with disabilities and removing the barriers to their participation in family and community decision-making processes.

METHOD

To evaluate the impact of the CBR programme, we use data from a large-scale control study in Karnataka, India. Propensity score matching is used to evaluate the impacts on disabled persons after 2, 4 and 7 years of entering the CBR. The theoretical framework for the analysis is based on the CBR guidelines, which are combined with the International Classification of Functionings (ICF), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UN CRPD) and Amartya Sen's capability approach.

RESULTS

CBR has a positive impact on the well-being of persons with disabilities participating in the programme and particularly on their participation within the family and the society at large.

CONCLUSIONS

CBR programmes have a multidimensional and positive impact on individual and collective capabilities; on individual, agency and social empowerment. Implications for Rehabilitation Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) can make a lasting difference in the life of persons with disabilities. CBR improves participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the family and in the community.