Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and Community-based Rehabilitation

Sunil Deepak (1), Ládia Rufino dos Santos (2), Giampiero Griffo (3), Deolinda Bitencourt de Santana (4), Jayanth Kumar (5), Santosh Bapu (6)
(1) Scientific Support Department, AIFO, Via Borselli 4-6, 40135 - Bologna, Italy,
(2) ADEFIS, Santarem, Brazil,
(3) Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI), Italy,
(4) Brasil Saúde & Ação (BRASA), Goiania, Brazil,
(5) Amici Trust, Bangalore, India,
(6) ORBIT, Humnabad, Bidar district, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Over the last few decades, there has been a growth in community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes in different parts of the world. These programmes are regarded as one way of strengthening the implementation of the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with disabilities.

CBR programmes and Organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs) have developed parallel to one another and are interlinked in different ways. CBR can play a role in the setting up and strengthening of DPOs. On the other hand, DPOs can also initiate and run CBR programmes. Both share similar objectives in terms of respect for human rights of persons with disabilities.

This article looks at the historical evolution of connections between CBR and DPOs, analyses some of the areas where their activities are interlinked, and presents 2 case studies - one from Santarem metropolitan area in Brazil and the other from Bidar district in India - to demonstrate those links.

Authors

Sunil Deepak
sunil.deepak@aifo.it (Primary Contact)
Ládia Rufino dos Santos
Giampiero Griffo
Deolinda Bitencourt de Santana
Jayanth Kumar
Santosh Bapu
Author Biographies

Sunil Deepak, Scientific Support Department, AIFO, Via Borselli 4-6, 40135 - Bologna

Dr Sunil Deepak heads the medical and scientific support department of AIFO (Amici di Raoul Follereau), an NGO based in Bologna, Italy. He is the national reference person for People’s Health Movement (PHM) in Italy, as well as secretary of Italian Global Health Watch. In addition, Dr. Deepak is a member of the scientific commission for the Italian branch of Doctors for Environment. Dr. Deepak has vast experience in research, training, monitoring and evaluation of programmes dealing with CBR, leprosy and primary health care in different countries in Africa, Asia and South America. He has collaborated with the Disability and Rehabilitation unit of World Health Organisation (WHO/DAR) several times, and is involved in the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC). He has also been President of the International Anti-Leprosy Federation (ILEP).

 

Ládia Rufino dos Santos, ADEFIS, Santarem

Member of governing body and social worker

 

Giampiero Griffo, Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI)

Member of Executive Board of DPI

 

Deolinda Bitencourt de Santana, Brasil Saúde & Ação (BRASA), Goiania

Director, BRASA

 

Jayanth Kumar, Amici Trust, Bangalore

CBR coordinator

 

Santosh Bapu, ORBIT, Humnabad, Bidar district, Karnataka

Director
1.
Deepak S, dos Santos LR, Griffo G, de Santana DB, Kumar J, Bapu S. Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and Community-based Rehabilitation. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2013 Nov. 6 [cited 2025 Jun. 27];24(3):5-20. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/120

Article Details