Assessing Practice and Challenges of University of Gondar Community Based Rehabilitation Program to Provide Services for Persons with Disabilities

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to assess the practice and challenges of community based rehabilitation (CBR) program of University of Gondar to provide services for person with disabilities in selected districts in Central Gondar Zone of Ethiopia. In order to meet the study objectives descriptive design was employed, and qualitative research approach was used. To this end, both Primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed by using thematic analysis. As a result, qualitative information was collected from a total of 19 interview participants, two focus group discussion and observation of person with disabilities who are found in service delivery areas of the program constituted the primary sources of data. Secondary sources of data were also obtained from review of literature and pertinent documents. The findings of the study pointed out that the involvement of all stakeholders were limited to the implementation of activities of program. The findings also showed that the program provided different rehabilitation services for PWDs including the provision of necessary teaching learning resources, making different facilities of some school accessible, vocational training, startup capital and provision of home to home rehabilitation services such as sign language training, training on social skills and self-care.