Work with PWDs takes on many forms like rehabilitative efforts, enabling access to governmental and institutional help, counselling, special schools, overcoming societal prejudices, fostering understanding and creating a peer-network of support and friendships .
CBR PROGRAMMES
The plight of rural PWDs, men, women and children, at the time was particularly dire. Shunned by general society, most were sorely mistreated by their families and caretakers.
OBJECTIVES
SHGs ( Self-Help Groups)/DPOs (Disabled Peoples’ Organizations) will evolve to be more functional and independent to ensure that persons with disabilities fight against discrimination and ascertain their constitutional rights/privileges and other entitlements, including resources/services meant for their improved living standards.
Children with disabilities will have access to normal or special education at primary and secondary level with provision for inclusive education and social integration wherever feasible that contributes to their improved literacy, self-confidence, identity and recognition both in family and society.
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) and intellectual disability (ID) will access quality rehabilitation training including vocational/ therapeutic services through special residential centres and community based approach.
Children with disability will be diagnosed early and need based rehabilitative / therapeutic measures such (physiotherapy, speech therapy, sensory stimulations, aids/appliances and surgical intervention) will be provided that contributes to:
a) Ensuring optimum use of the residual potential in the child
b) Preventing secondary problems that generally arise because of inadequate support
c) Reducing the intensity of disability and improving mobility
PWDs or parents of children with disabilities will manage and the total. Hearing disorders account for 13%, and 27% across speech disorders, mental illnesses, retardation and multiple-disabilities. Nearly 20% of the PWD populace are classified under ‘Any Other’ which leads to the assumption that data collection among PWDs is still imperfect and being refined. The government is making great strides in classifying and recognising PWD’s rights, and the CBR team’s efforts ensure that poor rural families having PWDs, and PWDs themselves get access to these rights and to equal opportunities in all possible areas of development. monitor feasible livelihood activities that improve their socioeconomic status and enhance their self-respect, identity and recognition in family and society.
Persons with severe intensity of disability will improve their living conditions by identifying and addressing their basic needs
through involving stakeholders at community/village level.
SHGs/DPOs will take up the issues concerning various facets of welfare and development of PWDs through advocacy and lobbying at Mandal/District/State and national level.
CBR staff’s knowledge and skills both in the institutions and in the field will be upgraded and strengthened to help them carry out their work professionally and contribute towards the sustainability of program interventions.
Children with intellectual disability will improve their physical, psychological and social development through access to
intensive training and supportive measures.
They were also not counted for demographically and socially - not included in census figures, unaware or not utilising their voting rights, had little or no political participation, didn't receive their dues like medical certification needed for accessing benefits, pensions etc. Neither were there any agencies to represent or help them and nor were they aware of how to access help. Banks were unwilling to give loans to PWDs, and if they were able to get some work, the pay would be extremely less
PWDs who could have benefitted from schooling and achieve some level of integration as functional adults in society were rarely afforded the chance to be educated as there were no special schools and certainly no inclusive education. As a result, literacy levels were abysmal among PWDs and they had no avenues to rise above their circumstances. And finally, infrastructural issues that affected poor settlements, such as poor transportation facilities, were even bigger obstacles to PWDs and their families in enabling access to the wider world.
In 1987, RDT partnered with the UK based NGO, Action on Disability and Development (ADD) for mainstream disability programmes in India. Mr.Venkatesh from ADD India, who himself was visually impaired – worked with RDT for Persons with Disabilities. Under his leadership, PWDs from over 20 villages were grouped into 10 Sanghams, which were groups that facilitated their personal development. Being totally dependent on others meant that most PWDs had little or no financial independence. Women with disabilities were further harassed through violence, torture, and in many cases, sexual abuse at the hands of their own caretakers or random strangers for whom they were an easy target.
As per the 2011 Census of India, 2.68 crore people (54% males and 46% females) in the country have some or the other form of disability, of whom 15.13 lakh reside in rural Andhra Pradesh (at the time, Telangana had not been formed).Loco-motor disabilities represent the largest number of people at 23%, followed by sight-related issues faced by 17% of the total. Hearing disorders account for 13%, and 27% across speech disorders, mental illnesses, retardation and multiple-disabilities. Nearly 20% of the PWD populace are classified under 'Any Other' which leads to the assumption that data collection among PWDs is still imperfect and being refined.
The government is making great strides in classifying and recognising PWD's rights, and the CBR team's efforts ensure that poor rural families having PWDs, and PWDs themselves get access to these rights and to equal opportunities in all possible areas of development.
TIMELINE
I will work hard, write my entrance exams, and become a doctor to serve my village people.
RDT’s concerted efforts in Community Based Rehabilitation programmes have met with positive receptivity over the years. Each programme is extremely streamlined, drives specific objectives and has over the years achieved tangible results. The long term goal is that PWDs overcome discrimination and lead a better life. In order to achieve this, RDT will be focussing on upscaling existing initiatives
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