520 chapter 55
5. COMMUNITY-DIRECTED REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT—PAKISTAN
The program began in Peshawar in the
Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan as a small
play group for 8 mentally handicapped children.
In 1978 the 3 Pakistani staff were joined by a
Welsh special education teacher and her husband.
During the next 7 years the play group grew to
become a community rehabilitation and resource
center with daily participation of 70 physically and
40 mentally and multiply disabled children.
12-minute radio broadcasts about home
rehabilitation started in 1984. (The scripts for these,
which are excellent, are available at the website of
Disability World, www.disabilityworld.org/01-03_02/
arts/afghan.shtml.) An article on handicrafts by which
disabled young people can contribute to their family’s
income is at www.independentliving.org/docs3/
milesm1987a.html. (See examples on p. 510.)
Splinting a leg to straighten a knee
contracture.
Local staff persons are trained by the few
professionals in special education, physical
therapy, brace making, parent counseling, and
planning services.
An important part of the program is the
Community Rehabilitation Development
Project. The big, largely rural area surrounding
Peshawar is very underserved. To accomplish
as much as possible with limited resources,
disabled children in towns were considered first.
Volunteer college students went door-to-door to
find and bring together parents and relatives of
disabled children. Public meetings were held and
an Association was formed in each town with
the aim of starting rehabilitation activities. People
(sometimes young disabled persons) were chosen
and sent to learn basic skills at the Peshawar
center. Meanwhile, the Association committee
raised funds and found a place that could serve as
a modest rehabilitation center.
Although the parent program has had UNICEF
and other outside funding, the neighborhood
rehabilitation centers have mostly been funded
locally, some with a government subsidy.
Management is entirely in the hands of local
people.
In addition to providing daily special education
and physical therapy, the neighborhood centers
act as a resource within their districts. They
distribute advice, pamphlets, and books to
families for home rehabilitation. Where possible,
going to normal schools is encouraged.
Disabled village Children
Helping a child begin to learn to move.
Also available is an excellent book by Christine Miles,
called Special Education for Mentally Handicapped
Pupils: A Teaching Manual. It points out the
importance of re-thinking special education to meet
local needs and customs in developing countries.
(See the reference section, p. 640.)
M. Miles, Christine’s husband, has also
written many excellent and critical papers on
rehabilitation efforts — and problems — in developing
countries (see www.independentliving.org).
The Peshawar program has succeeded in
promoting community-directed rehabilitation
activities in much of the Northwest Frontier through
organizing an already motivated group (parents of
disabled children). One of their keys to success is
to: “Do the easy thing first!”
Going for a ride.