CBR
Review of University of Gondar Community Based Rehabilitation
(CBR)
Program for People with Disabilities in North Gondar Zone The 8 Years of Travel Serving People with Disability towards their Dream
Prepared by: Ansha Nega, CBR program Director Ashenafi Takele, CBR Program Coordinator
May, 2014
Donor Organizations
with Great Respect Message from Dean of College of Medicine and Health Sciences
At the virtue of celebrating the 60th year anniversary of our University it is my pleasure to congratulate all the University community and all partners who were striving a lot to bring the University of Gondar at this successful stage in all aspects of the development.
Dr. Sisay Yifru
Dean of CMHS
This year is particularly special for all the programs running under the University as it is an opportunity to introduce and promote their marvelous works for the wider people as part of the diamond Jubilie celebration goes.
The University of Gondar community based rehabilitation (UoG-CBR) program is one of the biggest functioning community service program projects of the University. Hence, I am grateful to express my proud for having Community based rehabilitation (CBR) program that is service the needy segment of the society i.e. people with disability to improve their health and living conditions and enabling them lead independent life within their society.
The UoG-CBR is the only CBR that is functioning under the higher institutions in Ethiopia and the biggest CBR program covering many geographic areas (11 districts) in North Gondar Zone, since 2005. This is a great opportunity for our University community to use it as an approach to exercise their experts and give a service for local community. It is being used for student attachment in teaching process, for research undertaking opportunity and contribute for the community with its wider service. As we reflect our past experience and celebrate our present success, we also look the future for which our great experience will serve as a resource to use it any of our effort to service the community especially people with disability through our great CBR program.
At this point I would like to offer my warmest thank for all CBR program teams for restless effort to bring the CBR program at this stage and the door of my office is always open to support you towards improving lives of people with disability.
Thank you!
Message from UoG-CBR Program Director
Ansha Nega; CBR Director
UoG-CBR is there out in the community to service the most needy segment of the population; people with disability, since its establishment 2005. Many PWDs are being benefited from our CBR service through home based rehabilitation (364 yearly), provision of assistive devices, referral to advanced medical care (more than 800 so far),
linking to local schools (270 so far), provision of brail and sign language books (450 so far) and through different trainings and awareness creation programs.
I would like to forward my gratitude to our respected donor partners; light for the world Austria and Save the Children for their financial and technical support with a unreserved
commitment to address problems of PWD. All the University top management are also
acknowledged for their close support and commitment to reach our goal of serving the community especially PWDs.
As a leader of this great program, I would like to pass my admiration for my team; field workers, supervisors, our administrative bodies and support staffs for their commitment and courage to face the challenges of people with disabilities and being in the frontline of the battle in breaking barriers and bringing up light for those who had been in darkness for years. Itís all because of their effort that makes UoG-CBR successful in its journey to bring about equal opportunities and social inclusion for PWD. I am always happy to be part of the group in all their efforts and it is great joy to see our CBR staffs running here and there to service the local community especially people with disability where most of our national developmental efforts are not considering this segment of the society.
I am also thankful for all local governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations for their support in our effort to provide variety of services for people with disability to make them included in their society.
UoG-CBR is being used for the academics in teaching process, for research undertaking opportunity and as an approach to contribute for the community. Hence, I would like to call upon all the University community, any partner organization and the local community to be our hand and support our efforts in all aspects towards serving people with disability, to remove barriers, make PWDs included to their society, enable them lead independent life and contribute for their nation in all developmental efforts.
Thank you!
It gives me a great pleasure to express my proud about the efforts of the University of Gondar (UoG) in community service programs where the 60th year diamond jubilee is one of the special event to be celebrated as a member of the University community.
The University of Gondar community based rehabilitation (UoG-CBR) is a community service program with the mission to improve health and living conditions of people with disability (PWDs) and realize disability inclusive society in Ethiopia through effective community based rehabilitation, capacity building training and research undertakings on disability.
Preface:
If we live long enough every person in a life time has a chance to develop disability temporarily or permanently by age or accident. In every society people with disabilities exist and are part of everyday life. Like every other person people with disabilities (PwD) are entitled to human rights and should be included equitably in all functions of society.
People with disabilities in Ethiopia face many barriers. They are among the most disadvantaged groups where they suffer from impacts of socio-cultural, economical, psychological, physical and medical conditions. In addition PwD has been also ignored from being parts of the country developmental strategy for a long.
Restoring this exclusion through disability-inclusive development practice will help to achieve equitable developmental outcomes. Emphasizing the rights of people with a disability is an important step on the long journey towards a truly disability-inclusive society.
University of Gondar CBR is a pioneer higher institution in the country implementing a community based rehabilitation strategy to bring about equal opportunities and social inclusion for persons with disabilities in North Gondar zone. This community service program had been an opportunity for academicians from different disciplines to exercise their expertise and have been providing rehabilitation service to the community, supporting local government officials to be affianced in disability mainstreaming and enriching disability knowledge through research undertakings.
University of Gondar CBR program has been started its service since 2005 implemented through the combined efforts of people with disabilities themselves, their families and communities, nongovernmental organizations and the appropriate health, education, vocational and social sectors of the government.
This document shares the experiences of University of Gondar CBR program in its endeavour in breaking barriers, improving lives of people with disabilities, published in 2014 for the 60th Jubilee celebration of the University of Gondar.
Acknowledgement:
First and foremost our gratitude goes to our partner /donor organizations i.e.
Light for the World and Save the Children for the financial support and close guidance with a strong commitment in addressing problems of people with disabilities in North Gondar zone working in partnership with our University from its inception for the last nine years.
We would also like to extend our thank with great respect for the University of Gondar top managements mainly the president office, Vice presidents offices and Deanís office of college of medicine and health sciences for their unreserved support to the CBR program and accomplished all the managerial responsibilities and communications with partner organizations.
Our special thanks again goes to Dr. Sisay Yifru for being there for the program in all endeavors, encouraging staffs, getting involved in program activities and solving all administration issues that have raised at different occasions.
We also would like to acknowledge University president offices for the unreserved support for the CBR program throughout the times. The university president offices have always been there in signing contracts in alleviating almost all administrative concerns the program had faced. The president office in fact proved its commitment towards its goal of serving the country and the community. University of Gondar finance and procurement department also have played an undeniable role providing administrative support in the financial management issues.
A great thank for all the CBR staffs from field workers to the administrative bodies and support staffs, as itís all because of their efforts that enabled UoG- CBR to become successful to bring a change in the society for equal opportunities and social inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Families of children with disabilities, community members, DPOís and government officials and sectors, without whom implementing community based rehabilitation was almost impossible, deserve to be acknowledged for their keenness to get to get involved and provide necessary supports to bring change in the societies.
Acronyms:
Abbreviations
Descriptions
CBR Community based rehabilitation
CRPWDs Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
CWDs Children with disabilities
DPOs Disabled people organizations
GOE Government of Ethiopia
PWDs People with disabilities
UOG-CBR University of Gondar Community Based Rehabilitation
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
YWDs Youths with disabilities
WHO World health organization
Background Information
Key facts about people with disabilities:
About 15% of the world population consists of people with disability.
These are the worldís largest minority. 80% of all disabled persons live in isolated rural areas in the developing countries. There are 93ñ150 million children under 15 years of age living with a disability worldwide1.
20% (1 in 5) of the worldís poorest people in developing countries have some form of disability.
In the developing world only 5ñ15% of people with disabilities can access assistive devices2.
Over 90% of children with disabilities in low-income countries do not attend school; and an estimated 30% of the world ís street children live with disabilities. For adults with disabilities, the literacy rate is as low as 3%, even as low as 1% for women with disabilities in some countries3.
An estimated 15ñ20% of the worldís poorest people are disabled4.
There is a cycle of poverty and disability, where disability is both a cause and consequence of poverty5.
720 million women a year acquire a disability as a consequence of pregnancy and childbirth, mainly due to poor birth practices and lack of access to appropriate health care services6.
Mortality for CWDs may be as high as 80% in countries where under-five
mortality as a whole has decreased below 20 %.
- WHO & the World Bank, World Report on Disability ,2011
- WHO; Assistive Devices, 2006
- UNESCO, Children with disabilities.2010
- Elwan A. Poverty and disability: a survey of the literature. Washington, DC, World Bank, 1999
- UK, Department for International Development, Disability, poverty and development, 2000
- United Nations Population Fund, Motherhood and Human Rights 2009
Disability in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, information pertaining to incidence, prevalence and other situations of persons with disabilities are fragmented and sometimes misleading. This can be due to the varying definitions of disability, different data collection methods used, poor identification processes and cultural shame in disclosure. The World Report on Disability by the World Bank and World Health Organisation is the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide on global prevalence of disability.
According to the new WHO world disability report in Ethiopia 17.6% of the total population are estimated to have disability1.
Key causes of disability in Ethiopia:
Key causes of disability in Ethiopia include: prenatal and postnatal care and treatment issues, communicable diseases and infections (i.e. HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis), harmful traditional practices (i.e. early marriage, marriage by abduction, female genital cutting), accidents, and conflict. These causes are exacerbated by environmental and poverty-related issues such as malnutrition, poor sanitation and hygiene, and drought, as well as age factors. Research shows that as many as 50% of disabilities are preventable and directly linked to
poverty. According to the GOE, an estimated 95% of people with disabilities in
Ethiopia live in poverty2. Malnutrition causes about 20% of impairments2, with recurring droughts and food insecurity increasing the number of people with disabilities. In addition, the Ethiopia and Eritrea war and influx of refugees from conflict zones in neighbouring countries has contributed to the high prevalence rate of disability in Ethiopia.
- WHO & the World Bank, World Report on Disability ,2011
- Federation of National Association of People with Disability, ìStudy on DPOs Historic
Mission and Survival Strategies in Future Under the New CS Lawî ,2010
Barriers faced by people with disabilities in Ethiopia:
People with disabilities in Ethiopia face many barriers. These include issues related to: accessibility, discrimination, stigma/negative attitudes, low expectations, low self-confidence, lack of organizational support, and safety and security. Due to environmental issues and negative attitudes, people with disabilities are often excluded from educational, health, and other government services. Moreover, many who try to participate in society are often limited by financial constraints or lack of support services. For example, many Ethiopians with disabilities cannot afford to access mobility canes or wheelchairs and related mobility training, effectively limiting their ability to equally participate in society.
Stigma often leads to a denial of access to services such as education, employment and health care, but also, at times, food.
Women and girls with disabilities are one of the most marginalized groups in society, disadvantaged based on their gender and their disability. Access to health care, education, employment, and marriage are often limited for women with disabilities, and obstacles faced include: lower survival rates than men with disabilities, increased rates of abuse, and less access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, which result in higher maternal morbidity and mortality.
Many Ethiopians with disabilities leave their homes and migrate to other areas.
Programs offering assistance to the general population typically do not encourage involvement of or accommodate people with disabilities, and there is a general lack of staff trained to work with people with disabilities.
Ethiopia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and follows its description of disability as its definition:
a persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with othersî.
- USAID: Ethiopia Disability Inclusion Strategy, 2011 ñ 2015
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR):
Community based rehabilitation was initiated by world health organization (WHO) following the declaration of Alma- Ata in 1978. It was promoted as a strategy to improve access to rehabilitation services for people with disabilities in low-income and middle income countries, by making optimum use of local resources. Over the past 30 years UN agencies, nongovernmental organization and disabled peopleís organizations supported the CBR strategy and CBR has now made a progress into a multisectoral strategy addressing the wider needs of people with disabilities.
CBR ensures the participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in their societies and enhances their quality of life.
CBR, operating within community development, is a rights-based participatory approach to disability inclusion and equality of opportunities.
CBR aims to remove disabling barriers address the causes of disability and bring people with and without disabilities together equally with an overarching contribution to poverty reduction and improve quality of life for all.
CBR is implemented through combined efforts of people with disabilities themselves, their families, communities and in collaboration with health, education, vocational and social services providing institutions.
CBR uses networking to mobilize local resources and capacities for any service provided to PWDs.
Marike Borsuma, founder and consultant of UoG-CBR since 2005 being out in the field at Chilga district, Seraba kebele, investigating a youth for an orthopaedic device.
History of University of Gondar CBR Program:
UoG-CBR started its community service program right after the initiation of physiotherapy training in the University in 2004. The outreach physiotherapy treatment service which has been given in Kolladiba and Chilga districts. A baseline research was conducted by physiotherapy and the former community health departments jointly and assesses the overall prevalence and diversity of disability in three selected towns of North Gondar zone.
Initially UoG-CBR program was launched in 6 selected kebeleís from the three towns where the above research was conducted. That time the number of CBR staffs was 8 (6 field workers, a coordinator and a foreign consultant). Within the last nine years the program made expansion in its coverage to access its services to 11 districts. Currently the number of CBR staffs reached to 33 (A director, A coordinator, 24 field workers, 5 supervisors, an accountant and a driver.) The program has one car to facilitate field activities in targeted woredas.
Current List of Project Area: List of
Lsts of Districts and Kebeles where CBR program is providing its service from 2005-2014
Organizational structure of the CBR program
University
President
V/ President for Research
and Community Services
Program Director
Program Coordinator
University Finance
Office
CMHS Dean Office
General Supervisor
Field Supervisors at
Woreda Level
Driver
Accountant
Field Workers
Mothers Group
Cleaner
DPOís
Committees of Local
CommunityVision, Mission and Core Values of UoG- CBR Program
Vision
UoG-CBR has the vision to be a centre of excellence in Community Based
Rehabilitation services, capacity building trainings and research undertakings on
disability issues in Ethiopia by the end of 2020.
Mission:
University of Gondar CBR is committed to realize disability inclusive society in
Ethiopia through effective community based rehabilitation, capacity building
training and research undertakings on disability issues.
Program Goal
The main aim of CBR program is to improve the living conditions of people with
disabilities living in North Gondar zone ensuring their access to basic services
and opportunities to enable them become active contributors and participants in
their communities.
Core values of CBR Program:
Strength-based Approaches that Promote Hope
Community Inclusion, Partnership and Collaboration
Person- and family-directed approaches
Family Inclusion and Leadership
Peer Culture, Support and Leadership
Person-First (Culturally Competent) Approaches
Trauma-Informed Approaches
Holistic Approaches toward Care
Care for the Needs and Safety of Children and Adolescents
Partnership and Transparency
Creativity
Accountability
13Major Strategy used for Intervention by UoG-CBR Program
UoG-CBR uses CBR matrix designed by WHO CBR guideline. The WHO CBR
guideline states five major areas of intervention for disability inclusion. These
include; health, education, social, livelihood and empowerment component
interventions. Thus UoG-CBR program follows the matrix to bring about change
in disability inclusion in each component.
Accordingly for the sack of convenience this document uses these five
component areas of intervention to summarize the different activities
accomplished by UoG-CBR program. The figure below shows the five
components of the CBR matrix and five additional areas of intervention need to
be addressed under each component.
CBR Matrix showing major components of CBR strategies (Copy from WHO CBR Guideline)
Highlight of CBR program achievements
Yearly about 364 Children with different types of disabilities are getting home based rehabilitation and follow up services
In support of the CBR program screening of 1033 people with visual impairment for cataract and trichiasis was done. 355 cataracts, 217 trichiasis cases and 67 other cases (glaucoma, low vision and different inflammatory eye diseases) have received surgery by ophthalmologists and other health professional from UoG ophthalmology department.
More than 800 people with different kinds of children (majority are children with disabilities) received referral service support from the CBR program the different higher level health institutions including University of Gondar Hospital, Black lion, Korea, Cure and Zenebwork hospitals.
55 wheelchairs, 76 crutches, 11 special chairs, 47 prosthesis and orthesis were provided for beneficiaries.
A total of 338 health extension workers got capacity building training on disability issues, rehabilitation and health care service needs of PWDs.
35 slates and stylus given for blind students.
Full course books (More than 180 brail books) were printed in Braille for elementary, high school and preparatory blind students studying at Tsadiku Yonahis, Ambagiorgis and Fasiledes schools.
270 sign language books were distributed for deaf children, local schools and teachers teaching at local schools.
More than 270 children with different kinds of disabilities were linked to local schools and are getting follow up by the field workers.
A total of 280 families of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities have benefited from the income generation activities of UoG-CBR program and have changed in their income.
19 DPOs with an average of 70 members each has been established and or supported by the CBR program and received on going capacity building 15trainings on UN convention on the rights of PWDs, life skill trainings and Ethiopian labour proclamation for PWDs.
A total of 185 youth and adults with different kinds of disabilities have received formal vocational training in institutions for a total of 3 to 5 months.
They are certified and had been getting to work in the support of zoal labour and social affairs office and small scale industries office. The vocational skill trainings include; tailoring, wood work, metal work, weaving and mat making.
At different occasions YWDs were participating in Paralympics sport competition programs like on zonal Paralympics sport competition festivals and international disability day celebration programs. This has been supported by the CBR program and motivated YWDs towards sport activities.
In the support of CBR program zonal sport office has been holding a Paralympics sport competition at zonal level involving 19 districts.
For the last two years a total of 295 mothers of children with different kinds of disabilities have been getting training on how they can care for their child with disability.
Disability researches had been supported by the CBR program, 11 researches was conducted by higher level education students from abroad and from University of Gondar, from different disciplines.
Health component interventions:
Only 5ñ15% of people in low and middle-income countries who require assistive devices/technologies receive relevant equipment1.
Women with a disability are more likely to be infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases2.
Over 80% of people in Africa with epilepsy go without treatment3.
ìOnly healthy people with the support of a functioning health sector can ensure sustainable development of their societies. A loss of health is a loss not only to the person but also to the personís family and society as a wholeî4.
Majority of people with disabilities are poor and experience difficulties in accessing basic health services, including rehabilitation services. This causes immobility, isolation, dependency, inequality, often premature death and increased poverty. With proper health care and rehabilitation services, this picture could be significantly changed and PWDs would become important contributors to society. People with a disability have a greater need to access health services. They experience higher levels of unmet health needs than people without a disability.
Early identification of impairments and appropriate referrals to specialist medical or disability services is lacking in developing countries. People with a disability more commonly report selling land and other assets to cover health costs.
People with a disability may rely on family members for transport to health services or translation support, which can create resistance in seeking interventions.
- WHO: Assistive Devices/Technologies, 2006
- Groce, N:ëHIV/AIDS and people with disability.í Lancet, 2003
- WHO: ëEpilepsyí Factsheet No. 999, 2009
- WHO: WHO conference on health and disability, 2002
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Home based rehabilitation service for People with disabilities:
Home based rehabilitation (HBR) is an intervention provided by field workers and supervisors of UoG-CBR. This is a day to day duty of CBR field workers.
Because of the inaccessible situation of the intervention areas to highly specialized hospitals and centers, the house to house visit is found to be effective strategy for delivering the support to children with disabilities and their families. This activity is targets towards improving functionality of children with disabilities. Actually this is the gate way to other rehabilitation interventions to bring about social inclusion and participation for these children.
Major activities in HBR services, provided twice or once per week based on the condition of children, are Physiotherapy treatment, training on self care, training of activities of daily living, medication follow up for epilepsy and psychiatry cases and social skills are the most commonly provided follow up health care services.
Physiotherapy treatment services provided at homes of CWDs under UoG-CBR program
Yearly about 364 Children with different types of disabilities are getting home based rehabilitation and follow up services.
Physiotherapy treatment
Children with different kind of disabilities receive basic physiotherapy treatment services by CBR field workers. Among some of the cases are children affected by cerebral palsy, children with intellectual impairment with delayed gross and fine motor developments, children with burn contractures, children affected by polio and others.
CBR field workers build parallel bars and other physiotherapy treatment devices using local materials. They also train a family member on how to provide health care follow up services for their
family member with disability.
Activities of daily living training:
This training is usually given for children with intellectual disabilities, blind and deaf. Activities of daily living training is a training package of how a person could do his routine daily activities such as raising up in the morning, dressing him/herself, washing face, eating breakfast, going out to play with friends, combing hair, bathing, toileting, washing cloths, interacting with others, assisting his/her mother in shopping for and so on. These trainings are very crucial for developing self-confidence, felling as an important member of a family, independent functioning and social interaction.
.
UoG-CBR field workers are giving activities of daily living training for a boy with
learning disability and mobility orientation training for a girl with visual disability respectively, 2013.
Face washing training for a child with learning disability by CBR Supervisor, Azezo kebele, UoG-CBR.
Counseling and psychological support:
Due to social stigma and discrimination children with different kinds of disabilities are locked behind doors by their families. Families especially mothers encounter multifaceted social problems after giving birth to a children with disability. This includes; divorce, little social support due to wrong belief in the community. Due to these facts people with disabilities and their families face many psychological influences. CBR field workers used to fill these gaps in counseling family members and people with disabilities with different social challenges.
Providing health information for families:
The other important task of UoG-CBR is equipping mothers of CWDs with the right knowledge about disability and different social issues which they come across because of it. Mothers of CWDs are the closest of all to their children.
Mothers of CWDs periodically meet to have discussion about the problems of their children every month with the field workers. This has been used as a means to share experiences among each other to improve the situations around their children. It also helps to get mutual support to one another to bear up the discrimination from the community. In their monthly meeting and other capacity building trainings for these mothers they receive relevant information to improve the health status of their children.
Mothers of CWDs on a workshop at Takussa woreda, Delgie kebele, 2011.
2021
Provision of Assistive device:
Assistive devices aid in mobility, activities of daily living and self-care, as well as for voice, hearing, vision, and safety. Ambulatory aids (e.g, canes, crutches, walkers) Assistive devices aid in mobility, activities of daily living and self-care, as well as for voice, hearing, vision, and safety. Mobility assistive devices are very crucial for independence. They help people with disabilities to navigate in their environment with confidence and safety. They assist them to travel where and when they want and as such leads to self-sufficiency.
Assistive devices change lives by improving independent movement, functioning and participation.22
Referral Healthcare Service for PWDs:
Early identification and intervention is one of the major tasks in CBR enabling children to become functional. It helps to support children to have full physical, social and cognitive development at early stage. CBR field workers work jointly with other CBR actors like community rehabilitation committees and school clubs to identify children with disabilities locked behind doors. This helps a lot to make referral service to advanced higher level medical and orthopaedic centres to improve the life of many.
One of early intervention mechanisms of UoG-CBR has been linking people with disabilities to local health institutions and whenever it is necessary to advanced level of medical and orthopaedic service giving institutions. Within the last eight years about 800 children and adults with different kinds of disabilities benefited from advanced referral service through CBR. Among the most common cases that benefited from referral services include; epilepsy, clubfoot, orthopaedic cases, neurologic cases, hearing impairment cases, cataract and trichiasis cases, glaucoma cases, cancer cases, hydrocephalus and spinal bifida cases and so on.
Enabling health extension package workers (HEPWs) to provide home
based rehabilitation service:
Health extension package workers (HEPWs) are found in every kebele of the target districts. These are government employed looking after the general health of the community moving house to house like CBR field workers. They have their own 17 packages of prevention activities. We believe that through capacity building training for these government HEPWs CBR service could be scaled up to reach more area.
Mainstreaming efforts for inclusion of disability and Rehabilitation in the health care system:
UoG CBR hosted two regional disability mainstreaming workshops in Gondar town. The first workshop was held in 2012 on mainstreaming disability at different sector offices such as; education, health, labour and social affairs, justice, women children and youth affairs, sport, small scale industries, Amhara loan and saving enterprise. On this workshop UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities was the main agenda. Participants from regional bureaus, UoG management officials, instructors from different departments, woreda and zonal level officials from sectors mentioned above have attended the workshop.
The second regional workshop was held in 2013 in title ëímainstreaming disability in to health care systemíí. A total of 96 health care professionals from regional, zonal, woreda health bureaus, government and private health institutions attended the workshop. More importantly leaders of organization of persons with disabilities were also represented by their leaders on the workshop.
Regional workshop on mainstreaming of disability in to the health care system and UoG president signing a memorandum of understanding with Amhara region health bureau, 2013.
Education component interventions:
All people have the right to learn what they need and want throughout their lives and education starts in the family and continues by the community, schools and institutions, and in society as a whole. International instruments firmly established universal right to education that have global support.
For adults with disabilities, the literacy rate is as low as 3%, even as low as 1% for women with disabilities in some countries1. From these figures, it is evident that steps must be taken to ensure access to education for all children with disabilities.
Although everyone has the right to education, sometimes it is wrongly assumed that people with disabilities are an exception. Family members, communities and even people with disabilities themselves are often unaware that they have an equal right to education.
The links between poverty, disability and education mean that a community development approach is essential. ìLack of adequate education remains the key risk factor for poverty and exclusion for all children, both with and without disabilities. For children with disabilities, however, the risk of poverty due to lack of education may be even higher than for children without disabilities. Children with disabilities who are excluded from education are virtually certain to be long- term, lifelong poorî 2.
Provision of Pre-school education for Children with disabilities at house hold level to prepare them for formal school
- UNESCO, Children with disabilities. Paris, (undated).
- Jonsson T, Wiman R. Education, poverty and disability in developing countries. In: Poverty reduction sourcebook. Washington, DC, World Bank, 2001
Resource provision for local schools:
One of the challenges of local schools to include children with disabilities is lack of material to be used as reference to teach these children. 160 Sign language books and 15 Braille books was provided for local schools in 2013 only.
Montessori class is a special class used for children with disabilities to provide then a special kind of education besides the inclusive education.
Children with disabilities in their Montessori class established at Lay Armachiho Woreda, Tikil Dingay Elementary school.
Making the school environment accessible to CWDís:
For example, it has been estimated that using universal design principles to make a community centre and a school accessible only added 0.47% and 0.78% to the overall respective costs.
Linking children with disabilities to schools that are not accessible is the worst form of exclusion. After all the efforts done by the CBR program by linking children with disabilities to local schools some schools were not accessible especially the toilet and class rooms. The CBR program in collaboration with local schools and allocating budget enabled 5 schools to build accessible toilets in the school compound.
Improve awareness of officials in Education System on inclusive education:
Education officials are key actors in fostering the implementation of inclusive education. Without the full support of officials in the education sector school directors and teachers give little attention to the needs and the rights of education for children with disabilities. UoG-CBR has taken an agreement with the regional education bureau for training of education officials and teachers to implement inclusive education. Together with the regional office deputy head CBR program facilitated training for education officials from woreda and zonal offices. To sensitize the education sector on inclusive education UoG-CBR organized workshop for a total of 33 officials from woreda, zonal and regional education offices. These officials have taken understanding on concept of disability, the need for inclusive education to access education for many CWDs in their localities, local schools to open their doors for all children without any sort of discrimination as stated on CRPWDs (convention on the rights of PWDs).
Local school teachers training on inclusive education, sign language and Braille skills:
After training education officials at different level UoG-CBR and local education offices collaboratively made selection of 61 teachers to be trained by the CBR program on sign language skills, brail skills and integrated class room management skills. This training was given in two sessions 52 teachers for 12 days in the first round basic training and 23 teachers in the second round of the training of trainers for 7 days.
Link children with disabilities to education:
The main goals for children with disabilities after home based rehabilitation follow up services, provision of appliance and different interventions in the education system is linking children with disabilities to local schools. Through this effort a 143 CWDs are linked to local schools through the CBR program and attending their study 2013.
Children with disabilities involved in to inclusive class Establishing and Strengthening Disability school clubs:
Disability schools clubs are one of the main resources to raise the awareness of the school community and the overall general community. UoG-CBR has established 23 disability school clubs with 20 to 30 members. The school administration assigns teachers who will follow and support the students who are members of the disability school clubs. Among some of the activities done by members of the school clubs include; presenting dramas and songs on international day of disability, assisting a child with disability in their school by pushing wheelchair, making community assessment to identify children with disabilities hidden in households and linking them to CBR program, raising the awareness of the community at different community gatherings. In a total of 23 local schools disability school clubs are established with members 20-30 in each school clubs. UoG-CBR provides training for these students on disability issues and they do school awareness raising activities through dramas songs and celebration of international disability day with different events.
Social component interventions:
Being actively included in the social life of oneís family and community is important for personal development. The opportunity to participate in social activities has a strong impact on a personís identity, self-esteem, quality of life, and ultimately his/her social status. Because people with disabilities face many barriers in society they often have fewer opportunities to participate in social activities.
To bring about full social inclusion that will enhance participation of people with disabilities, UoG-CBR has designed different strategies. Creating awareness is one of the main strategies for this and awareness programs such as coffee ceremony, celebrating international disability day and community child to child clubs are the main once.
Awareness raising activities:
UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities article 8 calls upon state parties on the need for disability awareness raising activities in their societies.
This will help to enhance the integration of people with disabilities in to their societies and bring up social support within their communities. Moreover it fosters respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Moreover awareness programs combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life.
UoG-CBR has been raising the awareness within the community using different strategies within the last eight years. The effect of these awareness raising programs in changing the community has been noticed at different occasions.
This includes the community showing up children with disabilities that had been hidden for years, increase in respect towards persons with disabilities by the community as witnessed by person with disabilities, families of PWDs and Organizations of person with disabilities.
Coffee ceremony:
This is one of the social communication system used by the UoG-CBR to conduct an awareness rising on disability deep in to the local society. Coffee ceremony is one of the traditional practices in Ethiopia whereby neighbours invite each other to their houses to have discussion on different social issues while they drink coffee. CBR program used coffee ceremony culture of the community as one of the best strategies to teach families and the neighbourhood on a childís disability in the community. Most of the time the field worker conduct the coffee ceremony programs in the houses of a child with disability.
Field worker or the mother will invite participants for coffee ceremony to the neighbours and after the neighbours gather the coffee ceremony preparation will be started. In the mean time of the coffee preparation the field worker will start introducing one kind of disability topic to the audience letís say Epilepsy topic and start forwarding questions to the audience what they know about it, what they believe is the cause of epilepsy, how the community should approach a person with epilepsy, about the working capacity of a person with epilepsy and so on. Each question will be raised by the field worker one by one so that the neighbors will have time for discussion on each of the issues.
Sample Coffee program picture at Azezo kebele with a field worker facilitating the discussion.
At the end of the discussion the field worker will summarize the correct and the right issues addressing different misconceptions, wrong attitudes and practices related to a person with epilepsy in their localities. Similarly different disability topics and issues have been thought to the community by the field worker. These topics include; intellectual disability, burn injuries, hygiene and sanitation, immunization, polio as a disability, deafness, blindness, and pregnancy care and so on. Annually more than 5,000 community members had been reached with this approach.30
Community child to child clubs:
This is a strategy used to create social inclusion for younger children where the field workers make a play program gathering local children in the neighbour of a child with disability. Sometimes families of other children in the community believe playing with a child with disability can cause transmission of disability to the other children especially children with epilepsy, intellectual impairment and physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy. Moreover in children with hearing impairment (deafness) local children around the neighborhood of child.
International disability day celebration:
In the entire 11 districts UoG-CBR program facilitated celebration of international disability day together with labour and social affairs office and local DPOs for the last 8 years. Different messages have been passed to people gathered on the festivals. Local DPOs, community rehabilitation committees and schools clubs have different programs including circus talent shows by YWDs. For example in Dembia district the 2013 disability day celebration was attended by zonal labour and social affairs head and district officials and it was held at stadium of the main school. The program has been broad casted at the Amhara region television program where lots of people are expected to received the disability day messages.
International disability day celebration jointly by UoG-CBR, federation of PWDs, UoG studentís disability Association, UoG officials and Gondar town government sector officials, at UoG stadium. December, 2011.
students and staffs from different department and with Gondar town labour and social affairs office with different modalities and places for the event.
Enhancing participation of PWDs in sport, culture and recreation activities:
One of the main areas of the CBR program activities is achieving the social inclusion of people with disabilities in Sport training and competition programs.
The CBR program is working in collaboration with the zonal sport office. UoG- CBR is part of the management committee of zone Paralympics sport federation.
In 2013 the zone sport office in collaboration with UoG-CBR facilitated training for district level sport officials to give attention for inclusion of PWDs in sport programs.
UoG-CBR endorsed North Gondar zone sport office to implement Paralympics sport competition for YWDs from different districts. The first zonal Paralympics competition was held involving 12 districts at Dembia district. A total of 52 people with disabilities participated at this Paralympics competition. The competitions include; Table tennis, runner and wheelchair runner.
In a continuation phase of the Paralympics sport program that has been done together with the zonal sport office 140 YWDs were involved in recent zonal sport competition organized by district and zonal offices. In this sport competition 19 districts have sent Paralympics participants to Debark district.
Livelihood component interventions:
People with disabilities in low-income countries are affected by the same factors which cause poverty for others, but also face added disadvantages. Children with disabilities face barriers to education; youth with disabilities face barriers to training; and adults with disabilities face barriers to decent work. Most damaging CBR program has got an award of recognition for the great support of para-Olympic sport development in all aspects at the North Gondar Zone annual sport forum, 2013.of all, families and communities may think that people with disabilities are incapable of learning skills and working.
By encouraging and facilitating work by women and men with disabilities, community based rehabilitation (CBR) program is helping individuals and their families to secure the necessities of life and improve their economic and social situations. By taking into consideration the needs and views of people with disabilities and making provision for their inclusion in national poverty reduction and other development program, opportunities for education, skills acquisition and work can be provided for people with disabilities and their families, enabling them to emerge from poverty. Accessing livelihood opportunities is one of the key factors in eliminating poverty.
Institutional based vocational training for Youths with Disabilities:
Training in vocational training institutions usually offers a greater choice of skills training opportunities, access to new technologies and equipment, formal certification upon completion of training, career guidance, and job placement assistance. Formal vocational training centres are often located in towns and cities and are geared to the skills needs of larger urban enterprises, but there are also many local governments, nongovernmental organization, community- operated and private vocational training centres in rural areas with courses that provide useful training in technical and core life skills.
CBR program promote access to mainstream training opportunities in vocational training centres for people with disabilities, who usually face barriers in ennoblement to the training institutions.
Income generation activity for families of CWDs and youths with Disabilities:
In most low-income countries, the informal economy offers more opportunities for livelihood than the formal economy. This is especially so for people with disabilities, who may be blocked from wage employment in the formal economy by lack of education and other qualifications and by negative attitudes among employers.
In the informal economy, self-employment either alone or in a group is the most likely way to earn an income. Self-employment activities include; sheep and goat husbandry, running a teashop, running a shop, market business.
Income-generating activities or programs are one type of self employment activities provided by UoG-CBR. Income generation activities are small-scale activities that may be the sole source of income for an individual or family.
Sample pictures of beneficiaries from income generation activities for families of children with disabilities and youth with disability by UoG-CBR.
Capacity building for officials in micro-finance and small scale Enterprise:
UoG-CBR has provided awareness raising workshop in title ëíEconomic Inclusion of People with Disabilitiesíí for woreda officials every year.
The government of federal democratic republic of Ethiopia has clearly stated the inclusion of people with disabilities to be given a special emphasis on the poverty reduction strategy. However there is a knowledge gap on officials in the microfinance and small scale industries office on how to include PWDs on unemployment reduction strategy of their programs. UoG-CBR has filled this gap by training officials from districts and zone on ìThe economic inclusion for person with disabilities in developing countries.
Empowerment component interventions፡
The empowerment component focuses on the importance of empowering people with disabilities, their family members and communities to facilitate mainstreaming of disability across each sector and to ensure that everybody is able to access their rights and entitlements.
Support the establishment of legally registered and authorized DPOs:
Groups of people with disabilities become engaged in advocacy type of work and become a mouthpiece for those who are denied their rights.
In previous years in Ethiopia DPOs are formed based on disability types such as associations of deaf, associations of persons with physically disability, associations of person with intellectual disability, association of the blinds and so
- However in the current situation these self standing associations of DPOs come together under one umbrella organization called Federation of persons with disabilities. Federations have a stronger voice; they foster active citizenship and together DPOs may be very successful in combating injustices in society.
The role of disabled people in CBR is increasingly being seen as of vital importance for the success of CBR in making its initiatives to be sustainable. In many cases DPOs are believed to keep up the rehabilitation tasks and roles played by the CBR if they get necessary support from the government and other NGOs.
In actual fact participation of people with disability and self advocacy have become two of the principles of CBR. DPOs also provide a room for the participation of person with disabilities to be decision makers on their own behalf.
There is a special saying by PWDs ìNothing for us without us!íí. This slogan clearly show the need for DPOs is very crucial to make the voice of PWDs to be heard.
In the other hand having DPOs involved in a disability intervention program like CBR provide a room for advocacy by their own. People with disabilities can speak for themselves and they can tell the society their needs in their mouth.
Disabled Peoples Organizations also play a great role in terms of promoting equal access to essential and acceptable quality of rehabilitation programs for all and especially the poor of this world. They also serve as a bridge between those requiring rehabilitation services for example an artificial limb to an orthopedic centre/ rehabilitation service providing center / organization.
A total of 19 DPOS were established and/or supported by CBR program at 11 districts out of which 9 were previously established DPOs and have got support from CBR. In all its effort to establish or strengthen DPOs, UOG-CBR made link to labor and social affairs office of the government to follow them.
Capacity building for DPO members and leaders.
In collaboration with the zonal labour and social affairs office UoG-CBR provided capacity building training for a total of 153 DPO leaders from 10 DPOs.
Picture on the left showing DPO meeting with Aykel town DPO members on their process to get legal authentication and picture on the right showing capacity building training for DPO leaders from 11 districts.
Community participation:
The most important aspect of successful community intervention is an intervention that encourages the participation and contribution of community members. UoG-CBR used this relevant approach by establishing community rehabilitation committees. Community supportive rehabilitation committees consists of religious leaders, the elderly, parents of children with disabilities, school directors, local government administrative officials etc.. Based on their contribution in the community these people are selected by UoG-CBR and obtained ongoing training on disability issues. They are initiating community lead responses for the social inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in their kebeles and districts. They had been also involved in establishing DPOs and supporting the field workers convincing resistant families who donít want to show their children for rehabilitation support.
Capacity building training for community rehabilitation committees:
Rehabilitation committees received training from UoG-CBR every year for 2 days and they are engaged in the rehabilitation activities and support CBR field workers in their respective villages.
Community rehabilitation committeeís capacity building training, UoG-CBR.
Continuous Capacity Building of Filed workers:
Field workers are community members trained by the CBR program serve as a channel between the community and different level service providers for CWDs.
They play a major role in the provision of rehabilitation services especially home based rehabilitation and follow up, facilitating child to child club functions, mothers group meeting and coffee ceremony programs and also serve as a community counselor on disability issue.
Training of UoG-CBR field workers and kebele health care representatives through practical demonstration and exercise ass it is on the picture, UoG-CBR, 2008.
Integration of CBR in to the existing system of the University:
Organizing a workshop among different departments to familiarize them with CBR and improve their involvement in the project activities. (Instructors from 13 departments were involved in CBR workshops two times in 2013 only)
Under graduate students from UoG are using the CBR program for their community practice training. In 2013 a total of 24 social work department students were sent by the department for a month to exercise their profession and give community service in the CBR program.) In addition students from Ohio state University have also been attached in the CBR program for field study. So any other interested groups are well come.
Develop a comprehensive disability training guideline for field workers. A total of 17 instructors from 13 departments were engaged in producing a comprehensive CBR training guideline for field workers. The training guideline was checked for effectiveness on the training of newly higher UoG-CBR field workers that lasts for 2 months.
Support Research undertakings on disability areas: Disability is the most un-researched issue and the presence of CBR in the University is an opportunity for academicians and students to conduct research works on disability area and contribute for the local community.
Partnership with Local Organizations
The CBR program is closely working with the University special need mainstreaming office on disability issues to make its service accessible for all its customers including staffs and students where this effort was supported by a sensitization workshop and mainstreaming trainings.
UoG-CBR is working in collaboration with local governmental and non- governmental organizations in different perspectives to deal with problems of PWD and enable them lead independent life. Some of these organizations are; 3738
Mother Tereza Missionary of Charity; to support PWDs with food, closings and basic needs for PWDs.
Gondar Vocational Rehabilitation Centre; to train YWDs on different vocational skills.
Bahirdar Orthopedics Centre; in terms of provision of assistive devices for people with disability.
Ethiopian Centre for Disability and Development (ECDD); to provide for partnership and collaboration and mainstream disability so that students and staffs with disabilities in University of Gondar can better access the CBR program, education, trainings and other support services.
Future directions of UoG-CBR Program:
Integrating CBR program in to UoG community service Agenda:
UoG-CBR is still donor dependent and the future direction has to be incorporating the program as one of the community service programs owned by the university. So far the program showed an advance in its diversity of services and catchment areas with a minimal annual budget. Thus in order to bring about long term progress in the area of disability and rehabilitation it is important to have long term plans where budget issues will not be a drawback. Securing University budget will enable towards a sustainable program interventions in partnership with the local government addressing the issue developing strategic plans. This will enable the University to have an open pocket for research and academic exercises for academicians and students.
To mainstream CBR strategies into the government sector:
UoG-CBR has been sharing knowledge to local government sectors like education, health, microfinance, vocational training enterprises and social affairs on disability inclusive development. Moreover twice a regional workshop has been held inviting officials from the regional government offices. Such an endeavour is to mainstream disability issue in to all development activities by the local government.
In addition to the past trials on disability mainstreaming in to government sectors, UoG-CBR is looking forward to develop guidelines and other supportive documents to enhance disability knowledge and give a direction for disability inclusive program interventions.
Therefore different regional sector offices will learn the CBR program best practices and takeover its initiatives and incorporate to their regular services and programs to address the issue to their policies and priorities of action.
Make UoG-CBR one of the approaches for Professional Practice Programs for UoG students enable them to serve the local Community.
Community placement programs create interaction between the local communities, University staffs and students, to make them more directed towards the prevailing and emerging needs of their society. UoG-CBR is one of the best programs suitable for community placement programs for students. As CBR strategy requires a multidisciplinary approach students from different departments can benefit from this approach by enhancing their professional skills and experiences to solve real societal problems putting their knowledge in to practice.
Among the departments and schools at University of Gondar that have direct link to the area of disability and rehabilitation are; all departments in the Institute of Public Health, departments of psychiatry, physiotherapy, ophthalmology, special needs education, psychology, school of law and , school of sociology are among the top listed once. So far physiotherapy and social work department students have benefited from community placement under UoG-CBR and it is our hope that other departments will also come onboard to use this fertile ground for their students placement and academic exercises.
Establishing database for research and other purposes:
The area of disability needs more research undertakings especially to unveil the situation of people with disabilities in the Ethiopian context. Having its location at an academic environment, UoG-CBR program should serve as a resource for many disability research undertakings. This enables to produce up to date and relevant scientific information for policy makers and government officials. For this purpose the program need to establish a data base system to keep all client recordings in a computerized system. This enable researchers to access information/data/ that could be used to answer their research questions.
Establish a Comprehensive Centre for Service Provision and Training
University of Gondar is trying to address the needs of individuals with disability in different approaches. However, it is quite common to see people give support for needy individuals in unorganized way. These fragmented supports are not changing the lives of those supported peoples because it is not well targeted and projected to change their lives in a holistic manner. In addition there is no organized centre to collect professionals and any interested groups to support peoples with disability in the locality. Hence, the planned centre will provide the following services for beneficiaries;
To establish a resource centre and make different services accessible for PwDs especially for the University community.
To invite professionals and graduate students of relevant departments to use it as an opportunity to exercise and develop their skill as an internship.
To arrange a means of providing free service through the centre by interested individuals to use their input in supporting people with disability
To create access to information on different issues that should be available for all human beings.
To collect different materials from the public and make it available for charity to individuals with disability and any needy person in the University community and beyond for the local community.
To use it as a training centre for different capacity building programs on disability issue in collaboration with relevant departments of the University and other partners can also be invited.
Expand our service to reach more PWDs.
UoG-CBR is making its service available in 11 woredas within selected kebeles, however, the problem is not only based in these areas. Hence, we are planning to expand our service to other woredas and kebeles to reach more people with disability.
Sample Success Stories through CBR Program Health care referral system intervention:
The case of Tamit Dessie:
Janamora woreda is one of the new districts where UoG-CBR is engaged, with very difficult transportation accessibility due to unstable bumpy road. From this woreda a child named ìTamit Dessieî were referred by a CBR field worker to Gondar University hospital for treatment. Tamit is a 13 years old child living with her mother. She lost her sight in child hood and also has epilepsy. Due to the uncontrolled seizure she got a very bad burn wound on her face including whole part of one eye leaving a very big scare on her face. This happened because the seizure attack made her to fall on fire unexpectedly. The case of this girl is complicating her condition to lead to multiple impairments. First she had visual impairment and now due to uncontrolled seizure she developed big facial scare because of which her families are ashamed of and cover her face. They do this because of the big scar on her face not to be seen by the community.
If her epilepsy condition had had been early identified by a local health extension worker and sent to a hospital her condition would have been much better. This beautiful child had double impairment wouldnít have acquired another impact out of burn if she was able to get started the treatment for her epilepsy. But, there is no any medication for epilepsy cases at Janamora district that make her condition aggravated. After our engagement to the site Tamit was one of the clients identified by the field worker and has got referral service to the University of Gondar hospital where she has started medication for epilepsy and medical care for her burn. This story has been shared at the workshop of woreda health officials to show the consequences of unaddressed health care needs of people with disabilities especially children.
Home based rehabilitation beneficiary:
Child or Beneficiaryís name: Meseret Marie, District name: Layarmachiho
district
Situation: Meseret is a 10 years old child living with her mother and father in one of rural villages at Layarmachiho district, Shumaralomye kebele. She is the second in her family and has three sisters. The family was living in a hut for many years. Now the family has built a new house of one room and all are living in the same house. Meseret is going to local school which takes 30 minutes walk on foot.
Before Meseret was born the mother had had a repeated abortion more than two times. Later Meseret was born. The mother has seen the child is different from other children in her development and her as fool. Actually Meseret was born with a condition called down syndrome, a condition of learning disability.
While the CBR field worker is making an assessment in the area for children with disabilities going house to house in the community an uncle of Meseret told the field worker about Meseret. He told her the child has a problem and her family is hidden her in the house. The field worker went to the house to talk to the mother about the condition of Meseret. Initially the mother refused to accept the field worker to show Meseret. That time Meseret was 4 years old. Because the mother usually hides Meseret even her neighbours could rarely have seen her playing with other children.
Latter the field worker took local community disability rehabilitation committees, composed of religious leaders, and convinced the mother to try the home based
rehabilitation program to improve the situation of Meseret. The mother finally
agreed and started the rehabilitation training with the field worker.
By the time the field worker met Meseret she was unable to clean herself even
unable to wash her face by herself, not able to feed by herself, not able to play
with other children.
The field worker first prepared a community coffee program to teach the
neighbours and mother of Meseret about the condition of Meseret, how it is
caused and what can be done. She also explained to the community disability is
not caused by sin or curse from God. The local community was told to include
children with disabilities as part of the community like any other child.
Latter the field worker started home based rehabilitation training for Meseret on
how she can clean herself, wash her hand, feed by herself, play with other
children and do some house hold activities. Moreover the field worker started a
child to child program around the house of Meseret. With the child to child club
the field worker advised other children in the community how they have to
approach Meseret and play together.
Meseret showed a dramatic improvement and started to keep herself clean
including washing her face and eating by herself. She also started to play with
other children in the community. After seeing the improvements of Meseret the
mother started to commit herself in helping Meseret through training and giving her more responsibilities.
Meseret once had referral service to University of Gondar hospital because she was complaining of leg pain and limping. A physician examined her and suspected hip dislocation. She had an X-ray examination by a physician and her condition was fine and improved by its own.
Meseret now can perform many activities including keeping the house when her mother is not around. She is also preparing food by herself, feeding herself and going to school by herself. She joined 1st grade last year (September, 2013).
Though the school is a little beat far for Meseret she is able to walk all along by herself to attend education.
The family has got income generation support from the CBR program 2,000 birr to buy little cows. Currently they have grown and bred, as a result the capital of the family is increasing.
The services given to Meseret by the CBR field workers to improve her condition include:
Home based continuous daily living training and rehabilitation follow up, counselling family members on treatment of Meseret, refferal service, community action; like community committees convincing the family to let Meseret get help from UoG-CBR and Inclusive education facilitation through Montessori class at the local school.
The family of Meseret is very happy with the improvement of Meseret. The mother now knew that Meseret can learn to do different things.
Saying from Meseretís mother:
ëëPreviously the neighbors used to say bad words to us on Meseretís condition. I am regretting for the children I lost in womb for a reason I didnít know. Because of this I was hopeless for Meserets condition and was in sense of guilty. All that made me to hid meseret being ashamed of what happened. After CBR program came and helped my daughter I am happy with my child, she can keep the house when I am not around. My child is more trusted than any other children in the
community.íí
Meseret and her field worker Worknesh Shibabaw, Shumara lomye kebele,
Layarmachiho district in their interview with a Journalist from UoG on her
improvement.
Saying from Meseret:
ëëNow I can make food by myselfíí
Back Cover Page Information
Contact person and address:
Dr. Sisay Yifru: Dean of College of Medicine and Health Sciences
o Mobile: +251(0)918770694
o Email: sisaydr@yahoo.com
Ansha Nega: Director of UoG-CBR Program
o Mobile: +251(0)918151073
o Email: anshanega@yahoo.com
Ashenafi Takele: Coordinator of UoG-CBR Program
o Mobile: +251(0)918736927
o Email: tefferiashenafitakele@yahoo.com
Common Names given for Children with Disabilities in Targeted Woredas
Setogn (ሠጥቶኝ): ìGod gave e for the the sign that I was laughing on others!î (His Father)
Yesu Sira (የሱ ሥራ): Godís creation!
Esu YawuqaL (እሱ ያውቃል): God knows!
Right and Wrong Words about Disability
Using the right words when someone talk or write about disability is one way of demonstrating inclusion and avoiding discrimination towards person with disability. However, there are many words that are being used in our community commonly and which we would like to strongly oppose using these wrong words whenever we are talking or writing about disability or people with disability. Here under we list sample wrong commonly used and have to be avoid and right words that have to be used.
Right Words used with/for Disability
ትክክለኛና ልንጠቀምባቸው የሚገባን ቃላቶች
Wrong Words used
with/for Disability
ልናስወግዳቸው የሚገባን ቃላቶች
Person with Visual Impairment (አይነ ስውር )
እውር፣ ደንባራ
Person with Intellectual Disability (የአዕምሮ እድገት ውስንነት) ጅል፣ ቂል፣ ዘገምተኛ
Person with Hearing Impairment (መስማት የተሳነው) ደንቆሮ፣ ዲዳ
Person with Physical Impairment (አካላዊ ጉዳት)
በሽተኛ፣ አካለ ስንኩል፣ ድኩማን፣
አካለ ጎዶሎ