disABILITY FOCUS

This week we highlight the role of Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) in achieving the millennium development goals for people with disabilities. We begin with goal number one which focuses on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. Poverty is both a cause and consequence of disability. People with disabilities face stigma and discrimination in their communities and are frequently denied their basic rights such as food, education, employment and access to health services. People with disabilities may incur extra costs, such as those related to healthcare, and they are less likely to work. CBR promotes livelihoods and employment by identifying and overcoming barriers that prevent participation; exploring potential employment opportunities for people with disabilities in their communities; providing or ensuring access to skills training for income-generating activities and employment. One of the examples of the CBR programmes that saught to fight poverty among persons with disabil

The National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities adopts the Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) as a national strategy in view of its proven potential to contribute to the empowerment of persons with disabilities in selected districts in Malawi. For someone new to the disability rights advocacy, the term CBR may seem puzzling at the first sight. In this case, we will endeavour not only to define the term but also provide more practical elucidation and historical insights. There is a wide diversity of meanings currently attached to the term “CBR”. The reason is that CBR is not just a concept or a working definition, but also an ideology, assuming that community members are willing and able to mobilise local resources and to provide appropriate services to their persons with disabilities. The debate is very much about how far local people can do this by themselves. We therefore have to first agree on a ‘working definition” of CBR for this article. M

The National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities recognises that disability is a cross-cutting issue. It acknowledges the fact that disability affects and is affected by all aspects of life namely, economic, social, cultural, political, environmental and technological factors. A comprehensive policy and action plan to address disability issues and their effects on persons with disabilities should be based, therefore, on a thorough exploration and appreciation of its relationships with other relevant Government policies and legislations. The National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities is linked to a number of other national policies, legislation and instruments such as the Constitution of Malawi which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability and promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities. When drafting the National Policy, the stakeholders took into consideration the fact that the Vision 2020

Chapter One of the National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities is an introductory chapter which sets the background of the policy stating its purpose and aim. The Policy also describes briefly how it links with other existing policies and other pieces of legislation such as the Constitution of Malawi which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability and promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities; Vision 2020; the now out-dated Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (MPRSP); and Malawi Economic Growth Strategy (MEGS). Chapter Two describes the existing situation of persons with disabilities including the prevalence rate of disability and the key challenges and barriers faced by persons with disabilities, such as poverty, inaccessible public and private buildings; exclusion, marginalisation and vulnerability; HIV and AIDS; employment; and exploitation. . In Chapter Three, the document sets broad policy directions, and highlights

The National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities was developed in order to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and to allow them to play a fully integrated and participatory role in society in Malawi. Besides mainstreaming disability on the social, economic and political agenda of development programmes, the policy also aims to ensure that persons with disabilities access the same fundamental rights and have the same responsibilities as any other citizen of Malawi and that they are included in all political, social and economic development initiatives. In this regards, the policy recognises the need for persons with disabilities to be involved in the development of national programmes, projects and services. One of the strategies to achieve inclusion is to promote the availability of useful equipment, skills and services to all persons with disabilities, which will enable them to achieve and maintain their optimum physical, sensory, inte

This week we attempt to shed more light on what various governments and their strategic partners are doing – and still need to do – in domesticating the Convention. Or to say the same thing almost differently, what is it that is being done in creating conducive legislative environments supported by programmes at grassroots aimed at empowering and mainstreaming disability? Over the past few decades, many governments have introduced measures to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Different types of legislation have been put in place, with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) providing information, assistance and advice to governments, employers' and workers' organisations. Efforts have focussed up to the present on establishing appropriate legislation, but now attention is turning towards the impact of the legislation on employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This question is central to the broader social and political right