theory and methodology of CBR

A theory of CBR, to the needs of a deaf child or person and possibly deaf with other disabilities (difficulty walking, for example), based on Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation in Dakar:

a. When your child is found to be deaf or does not hear well, education needs to start early. You can find a copy of Helping Children Who Are Deaf through your nearest CBR. Begin with basic sign language (eat, sleep, cold, play, etc).

b. The family is the most important care giving agency of a deaf or hard of hearing child, and

c. Using human resources, such as parents and community workers available at the CBR, is the most cost-effective way of responding to the needs of these children.


Another aspect of CBR is to be autonomous but connected with other CBRs or local government when your CBR lacks resources on deafness.

Einar Helander, the "father of CBR" recommends the following principles:


1. The basic personnel should be chosen by the local community and live there at easy distance from those who need the services

2. There must be records, reports, and evaluation of the work. The community should participate in the evaluation.

3. The community work should be micro-managed by the local administration (council) of the community (village, urban quarter). The community could either use already existing structures, such as the Community Council, or set up a separate body such as a Community Rehabilitation Committee. The intermediate-level professional would be attached to the District administration.

4. The CBR worker needs to have sufficient time to do the job with good quality.

5. The CBR worker and the community committee members must be cost-conscious. Costs should be held at a level that is economically realistic and maintainable. An habit of referring all people with disabilities to distant and expensive specialists and centres has to be avoided. This is only possible, if the community worker and the professional are well trained.

If your community does not have a CBR or would like to expand its current CBR, Mr Helander also recommend the following actions for management system to make your CBR effective:

1. Formulation of clear policies

2. Quantification of needs

3. Development of strategies and approaches

4. National planning

5. Evaluation systems

6. Financing and budgeting

Keep in mind that to make this effective, persons with disabilities must be included with the operation of a CBR after meeting education and training requirements. A deaf individual or an individual who doesn't hear well will be a better role model and be empathetic to the needs of newly identified deaf or hard of hearing child or adult.

And the local CBR must have the ability to make decisions impacting the local conditions and needs, not have decisions made by the national government. The national government doesn't always know what a local community needs. But this can be successful long as the rights of a deaf person and other persons with disabilities are respected.


Tools to evaluate a CBR:

Depending on your location, this may apply to some or most of the functions within your CBR. To evaluate will also show how to run a CBR more efficiently.