In Chennai (formerly Madras), Tamil Nadu, the Community Based Services(CBS)Programme was initiated in March 2003 and caters for the individual needs of people with disabilities. It covers the block of Thiruporur, in the outskirts of Chennai. This block is one of the most deprived areas of the district with mostly rural population. It is estimated that there is up to 1,200 people with disabilities in the area. They have very little knowledge of the existing facilities and poor access to the district headquarters, 70km away.
The project focuses on 15 villages and the team has identified 350 people with disabilities in the community.
Activities are tailored to address several aspects of the lives of people with disabilities, depending on their age, gender, family situation and communities. The overall objective is
‘empowerment of persons with disabilities through social, economic, political and cultural development and their integration in the community, supported by a change of attitude in the society and the creation of opportunities for self-reliance’.
In places where disability is seen as the punishment for past sins and bringing bad luck on the family, the first step was to change attitudes through sensitising the community. An awareness campaign was carried out to sensitise Government officials, teachers, health workers and local leaders. Community volunteers were identified to guide rehabilitation measures such as identifying and approaching resource institutions, government schemes and treatment. Self-help groups were set-up in the villages, as well as parents groups, which are represented at the block level to raise the concerns of children with disabilities. Such mobilisation of the community was the prerequisite to the implementation of sustainable activities involving all stakeholders.
Children can then be identified, provided assessment and access to rehabilitation services, prosthesis, counselling, aids and appliances as needed. Overcoming their mobility and communication impairments facilitates their integration into mainstream education.
Further activities include: setting-up vocational training and income-generating activities, early identification of disabilities and the provision of preventative measures, regular training of staff and families.
