CBR Asia-Pacific Network

A) Executive Committee Meeting

CBR AP Network Executive Committee Meeting chaired by Ms. Yasmin (second from right) The Community-based Rehabilitation Asia-Pacific (CBR AP) Network Meeting was held from 8-9 February, 2010 at APCD, Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting mainly focused on the following:

• Asia-Pacific Convention on CBR scheduled for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 15-17 November, 2010
(more details in the column of the Asia-Pacific Convention on CBR)
• CBR AP Network Website and Newsletter will be developed in collaboration with APCD.
• The National Council on Disability Affairs in the Philippines agreed to hold the 2nd CBR AP Congress
in November 2011.
• A strategy for fund-raising is a crucial consideration in the network’s plan of action to be implemented
in the near future.
In order to follow up and update, the CBR AP Network, please contact the Secretariat located in APCD’s
Bangkok Office that is acting as the focal point to coordinate the Network.

B) News & Movements

JANNET Study Trip on CBR to India
Japan NGO Network on Disabilities (JANNET) organized a study tour on CBR to Bangalore, India from 16 to 23 January, 2010. Dr. Maya Thomas introduced Mr. Rama Chandran (Chandru in short) of Basic Needs, a NGO working with a partner organization to support persons with mental disabilities. Mr. Chandru arranged the overall coordination of the program. Participants visited Mobility India, which has a big Prosthetic and Orthotic Center; they also implement a CBR program to address the poverty of persons with disabilities in urban slums and rural areas. Mr. Chapal Khasnabis of WHO is a founding member of the Center. Ms. Albina Shnakar, Director of Mobility India, who attended the network meeting at APCD in December outlined the CBR activities of Mobility India. It is hoped that this kind of exchange can be facilitated through the CBR AP Network.

  

C) Asia-Pacific Convention on CBR 15-17 November, 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Background: CBR focuses on enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families, meeting basic needs and ensuring inclusion and participation. CBR is a multi-sectoral approach and has 5 major components: health, education, livelihood, social and empowerment. CBR was developed in the 1980s, to give people with disabilities access to rehabilitation in their own communities using predominantly local resources. In 2004, after 25 years of the establishment and implementation of CBR programmes in 90 countries, UN agencies (WHO, UNESCO & ILO) worked together on the development of new CBR Guidelines that aim to ensure that “CBR is a strategy for rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion of Persons with Disabilities” with the flexibility to accommodate different realities and cultures.
C Asia-Pacific Convention on CBR
15-17 November, 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Purpose: The purpose of the Convention is to introduce the New Guidelines which is a step-by step guide to the implementation of CBR programmes; to strengthen the delivery of CBR and the daily practice in the field of good evidence based practices. It also aims to be a platform for networking and sharing of knowledge amongst CBR practitioners and policy makers.
Expected Outcomes:
1. Capitalize the utilization and maximization of available resources.
2. Develop an Asia-Pacific CBR Network.
3. Enhance inclusive participation of PWD in the development of CBR Programmes.
4. Develop CBR Programmes using the UNCRPD.
5. Encourage policy makers to play a more inclusive and meaningful role in CBR Programmes.
6. Improve the implementation of CBR Programmes.
7. Share experiences and good practices of CBR practitioners and implementers.
8. Include subregional collaboration for better enhancement of the CBR Network movement.
Venue and Date: In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 15-17 November, 2010; the name of an accessible hotel will be confirmed as soon as possible. For more details of the proposed program, please contact CBR AP Network Secretariat at cbrapnetwork@apcdfoundation.org c/o APCD Foundation, Bangkok,
Thailand
Sub-Theme of CBR Convention
1. Day 1 Introduction to the New CBR Guidelines
2. Day 2 Networking and Collaboration of CBR
3. Day 3 Knowledge Management and Resolution of the Convention

News developed by CBR Network