APCD identified four barriers of a societal environment: firstly, the built environment such as buildings and transportation; secondly, an information communication barrier such as sign language, Braille and ICT accessibility;  thirdly,  regulations and laws excluding persons with disabilities from the community, organizations and government such as becoming a medical doctor, a professional, and sometimes getting a driver’s license; fourthly, people’s attitude such as attitudinal discrimination, which is the biggest barrier. Therefore, SHGs of persons with disabilities may become “agents of change” to promote an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for all.  

 Over 70 percent of persons with disabilities live in rural areas in developing countries. The present movement of CBR is from the “medical model” to a “social model”, and the future movement is from an “Empowerment Model” to an “Environmental Model”. CRPD identified community-based inclusive development of CBR as the human rights of persons with disabilities, including rights in the community, and rural areas.