Summary

Program goals

* To provide treatment, rehabilitation and support services focusing on physical, emotional, social, psychological and economic aspects. * To promote the development of skilled personnel in health care and rehabilitation in the country and the region. * To develop sub-centres in different parts of the country to expand the services for disabled people in collaboration with other organisations (NGO's, Government, self help organisations and private sector). * To organise and promote programmes for the prevention of disability. * To develop programmes for disabled children, focusing on early identification, therapeutic interventions and education.

Key program components

The Center for Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed utilizes the following components to achieve its goals: * Physical rehabilitation: through medical and therapeutic interventions and the provision of appropriate mobility aids * Psychological rehabilitation: through counseling and sharing of experiences * Economic rehabilitation: through vocational re-training and assistance in securing micro-credit loans * Planned discharge: for a successful reintegration into the community, ensuring that the home environment is as safe and accessible as possible and that local residents are educated about disability, its causes and consequences. The holistic nature of CRP's work is reflected in the fact that its work covers several areas of development including human rights, poverty alleviation, health care provision and education. CRP's headquarters is in Savar with an additional three functioning sub-centres throughout Bangladesh. * CRP-Gonokbari is a residential vocational re-training centre for disabled women and girls * CRP-Gobindapur is a centre for out-patient and community based services in Sylhet Division * CRP-Mirpur is a thirteen-storey centre in Dhaka which provides medical, therapy and diagnostic services in addition to having several floors available for rent. Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) projects operate in 13 districts of the country. Accident and disability prevention programs include research components and aim to educate vulnerable groups on safe working and living practices. Advocacy and networking activities bring CRP's work to the attention of relevant officials and promote improved co-ordination among the many organization with which CRP works. Awareness raising and publicity campaigns inform the population of relevant issues and attempt to break down the barriers, superstitions and stigmas which prevent disabled people from enjoying equal rights and opportunities. CRP is the only organization of its kind in Bangladesh, a country with a population of 140 million. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 10% of the population in Bangladesh are disabled. The project is funded through donations from overseas or Dhaka-based representatives of foreign agencies, as well as donations form local sources, income from commercial projects and contributions from services users.