Journals Information
Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 2(4), pp. 159 - 167
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2014.020404
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Local Resources of Disabled People in Sri Lanka: Action Research on Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme
Masateru Higashida *
Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan
ABSTRACT
This case study examines local resources of disabled people at the individual and social levels in a rural area. The research was conducted in the model administrative division of the national community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programme in Sri Lanka. In this division, the programme began in 1998, and international volunteers started support activities in 2007. The author applied action research after commencing work as a social worker in the local government office in February 2013. Data were based on social work practice in the field level: assessment, planning, implementing and monitoring. This study used data from semi-structured interviews with disabled people, interviews with a social services officer, documents relevant to CBR, and the author's field notes. Data were analyzed with qualitative procedure. The findings suggest that living conditions of disabled people have improved through the development of community workshops and other local resources since 2009. Using interview data, the study reveals individual level elements at each stage: infancy, school age, after school age, turning points and after participation. The significant elements are meeting with a key person and being linked to local resources, developing social support network, and increasing income. The analysis also indicates that the division's CBR programme encounters the challenges: the right to receive education, information sharing and networking, the variety of local resources, sustainable activities, empowerment and leadership, and capacity building. Finally, we discuss implications of these findings and show a new action plan based on the results.
KEYWORDS
CBR/CBID, Sustainability, Human Rights, Social Work, Qualitative Analysis
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Masateru Higashida , "Local Resources of Disabled People in Sri Lanka: Action Research on Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 159 - 167, 2014. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2014.020404.
(b). APA Format:
Masateru Higashida (2014). Local Resources of Disabled People in Sri Lanka: Action Research on Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme. Sociology and Anthropology, 2(4), 159 - 167. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2014.020404.