Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to assess the practice and challenges of community based
rehabilitation(CBR) in selected districts in Centeral Gondar Zone. In order to meet the study
objectives descriptive design was employed, and qualitative approach was used. The participants
of the study were 12person with disabilities, 6 parents, 1 assistant program coordinator, 3
community based rehabilitation workers (CBR), 6 teachers and 6 organization of person with
disabilities (DPO)members. The data were collected through interview, focus group discussion
and observation. Data analysis was done using thematic analysis. The findings of the study
pointed out that the involvement stakeholders were almost all limited to the implementation of
activities of program. However, they didn’t participate in planning and evaluation activities of
the program. The findings also showed that the program provided different educational and
livelihood services for PWDs. These educational services are: provision of necessary teaching
learning resources, making different facilities of some school accessible and provision of home
to home rehabilitation services such as sign language training, training on social skills and self
care. Whereas livelihood services are: provision of vocational training and startup capital. In
addition, regarding observed changes in the lives of person with disabilities, the finding revealed
that different changes observed on the education and livelihood of person with disabilities. These
are, in their education, some of them got educational oppourtunity, improvement of social skills
and fulfillment of their educational needs, whereas in their livelihood, some person with
disabilities started to lead an independent life and become self-reliant. On the contrary, the
majority of person with disabilities didn’t observe change in their livelihood as a result of
program intervention. Moreover, the study revealed that the existing challenges in the process of
implementing educational and livelihood matrix of the program. These are, in education matrix:
negative attitude of school community, shortage of assistive devices, inaccessibility of school
facilities and poverty. Whereas, in livelihood matrix: disagreement among person with
disabilities to work together, low expectation of the capabilities of person with disabilities by
themselves, lowness of startup capital given from the program and negative attitude of local
government toward the issues of disability.Based on the findings obtained some
recommendations such as ensuring involvement of stakeholders in overall activities of the
program such as planning and evaluation, implement all components in the education and
livelihood matrix and work more on awareness raising program in different disability issues.
