A Coordinated Collaborative Response to Rehabilitation Needs of Persons with Disabilities

The full integration of persons with disabilities cannot be achieved by one sector because of the complexity of disability issues. Rehabilitation is one strategy that aims for the full integration of persons with disabilities in communities calling for integrated and collaborative inter professional and intersect oral approaches towards achieving this goal. This paper proposes an inclusive participatory process of a coordinated collaborative response to the rehabilitation needs of persons with disabilities as a model of best practice which is currently being piloted in a specific rural community in South Africa. Through this participatory process, the model demonstrates how the UNCRPD, CBR and ICF can be used and contextualised within a new inclusive development model in responding to both the cultural and contextual demands in communities, whilst also building the capacity of stakeholders who will be involved in participating in the implementation of this coordinated collaborative response to the needs of persons with disabilities in this specific area. At the core of this proposed model is the art of reclaiming the human dignity of persons with disability and facilitating empowerment through such collaborative spaces where persons with disabilities from the beginning form part of the discussions in the various stages of this proposed model and given the spaces to respond and inform the development of solutions that will have an impact in their lives. This state of the art innovative rehabilitation model of best practice is proposing the integration of the translation of the rights of persons with disabilities as well as the current rehabilitation theories and policies into the actual lived community experiences of persons with disabilities. The outcomes of this model are the principles of empowerment, inclusivity, collaboration and a socially responsive model of best practice that speaks and addresses directly and appropriately to the needs of persons with disabilities at community levels. We perceive that this model is the practical example where the expression coined by persons with disabilities- "nothing about us without us" is being practically implemented at ground level.