CBR Programs in 30 Underprivileged Cities

The State Welfare Organization helped 430 disabled people in rural areas under the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programs in the last calendar year (ended in March) and intends to expand the service to urban and fringe areas.

To this end, 30 underprivileged cities have been selected of which 10 are in Sistan-Baluchestan, 7 in Kerman and the rest in other provinces.

Fringe areas of metropolises like Mashhad will also be included in the scheme, said Hossein Nahvinejad, deputy for rehabilitation at the SWO, ISNA reported.

“The SWO wants to help augment the capabilities of the disabled and pave the way for their progress to managerial positions,” he said in a Tehran meeting with the disabled members of the  city and village councils. The councils are local bodies elected by the people in 1,245 cities and 2,589 villages across the country.

The aim of community-based rehabilitation is to help people with disabilities, by establishing community-based programs for social integration, equalization of opportunities, and physical therapy rehabilitation programs for the disabled.

Nahvinejad stressed the need and importance of improving urban structure to facilitate easy movement for the disabled.

“The talents of the disabled will not be revealed if they cannot leave home,” he said, expressing the hope that all universities, offices and leisure centers will become disabled-friendly.

He expressed opposition to the separation of this group from ordinary people by setting up special spaces “because it will further add to their isolation.”

Echoing the stance of rights groups in most countries, he said, “The world of today will not accept the construction of a special parks for the disabled…All parks must also be accessible for this group.”

In the local council elections in May, 174 people with disabilities were voted into office – seen as impressive by most observers. Of this number, 40 are councilors in rural areas while the rest were elected to city councils. The new councils begin their term next week.

“Today, the public is convinced that despite physical disabilities, these people do have the  eligibility and qualification to help improve their cities and villages,” he said.

Nahvinejad called on the councilors to use their clout and relations with lawmakers to help reform laws in favor of the disabled.