Rehabilitating the disabled

TOWARDS INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES: The Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu, Taramani, Chennai-600113.

THIS IS A disability handbook on prevention, early detection and early intervention, brought out to address policy makers, practitioners and parents. ``Research has long since proved that the Birth- 6 years are the most vulnerable years for all children. This is especially true for the disabled child.''

After 50 years of efforts in rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in India, it is now clear that only two per cent of the disabled population have been reached so far through conventional institution-based strategies pursued by government and non-governmental organisations.

Historically, disability rehabilitation services in India have been institutional in nature, largely urban-based, financially difficult to sustain without support from governmental and international funding agencies.

It is estimated that existing services are reaching no more than two per cent of those in need.

The scenario in rural India with its vicious cycle of poverty, ignorance, superstitions and fear results in phenomenal, social, economical and emotional isolation of the disabled persons and their families.

This book arrives at a crucial time, when the need for work in this area is realised, but the ways and means are not clear to those involved and general awareness of the public at large still remains at a low level. Thus, it proves to be, no doubt, a meaningful landmark in the history of welfare of the disabled.

The book is divided into six modules. Module I is on community based rehabilitation and includes definitions, descriptions, components, PRA, and sustainability. Module II is on disabilities - visual, hearing, locomotor, mental retardation and cerebral palsy.

This module deals with definitions, terminologies, causes, types and implications for interventions. Module III deals with teacher preparations including attitudinal change, strategies for inclusive education, and preparing the non-disabled population for inclusion of students with disabilities.

Module IV is on assessment and deals with checklists and simple assessment formats. Module V is on assistive devices for facilitating access for persons with different types of disabilities. Module VI is on enabling legislation, government schemes and benefits for persons with disabilities that are available from the Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Many persons with disabilities simply had neither the knowledge of services nor an understanding of the benefits to be derived thereof.

At this point of time the aim of disability management should be to ensure social integration of persons with disabilities - creating opportunities for full participation and empowerment of disabled persons through realisation of their rights as full citizens of India.

The guidelines provided in the various modules of this book would provide a wealth of knowledge to all those involved in the task of rehabilitating the disabled persons in the society.

GEORGINA PETER

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