THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF CBR

CBR, therefore,is grounded in the following rights;beased principles:

1. Inclusion
2. Participation
3. Self-advocacy
4. Sustainability
5. Equal opportunity
6. Accessibility

1. INCLUSION
The only thing we have in commonis that we are all different. Because of our differences we
sometimes have to do things in different ways but because we do things in different ways, we risk
being excluded from the “norm”
When differences are not accepted by society a right, for example impairement,segregation occurs.
When a child low vision is separated from her classmates and enrolled in SPED class, her
impairment becomes a disability, a label to justify exclusion. In CBR we must ask why some
children are segregated. Whether it is disappointment, misinformation, fear or shame of anyone
who is ‘different’, CBR works with families, schools and communities to counsel and inform that
all children should be together. We remind ourselves of the values that we hold dear: that every
child matters and we should make every effort to make sure that society and the “persons with
differences” can work together for an inclusive society. Inclusion encompasses different cultural,
gender and religious realities, as a value and a right. What we say about a person with disability is
also true for anyone who is “different” , whether from a cultural minority, an indigenous person, a
Christian, a Muslim, a woman, a man or a person who is gay.
Respecting differences among people
1. Each community is made up of diverse groups and individuals who do not fit into “norm”.
2. We try to change individuals and groups to “fit” into standard ways of being citizens.
3. Instead we should respect diversity so that everyone is accepted and included. As a result,
we would have a more creative and dynamic culture.

2. PARTICIPATION
Participation means people with disabilities and their families have the right to decide, plan,
evaluate, manage, and implement programs, in partnership with the community.
Participation means persons with disabilities have choice and decide for themselves. No
intervention should be carried out on them without their consent.
CBR states that people have right to be deaf, to be blind, to be physically impaired, or to be
intellectually impaired. And we cannot just assume that people want to hear and see again.
In “The Cry of the Gull” , the author, Emmanuelle Laborit, discussed a medical cure to make
people hear. She will refuse that type of operation as “it would destroy our identity”. But that does
not mean others would not want the surgery.
The point is that there must be CHOICE and PARTICIPATION in decision-making.
Participation is about ownership of the program by community, especially persons with
disabilities.

3. SELF- ADVOCACY
People with disabilities organize themselves to ensure they are the center of the rehabilitation
process, to advocate for change, to lobby for their rights and to get information so that they can
make informed decisions about what they need. That is their right.
It means persuading people to change because you have convinced them that change and
development will create a society where everyone has rights, everyone has access to all services,
where differences are celebrated, where everyone is a citizen, and where everyone has choices and
has the opportunity to be a winner. And self-advocacy is when individual or group speaks on behalf
of its own sector. It means they have access to information to make informed decisions. It means
they have legislation to back them up, in order to have the disability agenda included in the agenda
of government and civil society.

4. SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability means coordinated co-operating among government, LGU,civil
society,professional,technological and the business sectors in order to maintain a high quality
program that the community wants. It means;
Not over loading anyone agency, institution, community group or NGO;
Mobilizing the community’s resources: human, technical environmental,facility to meet
the stated needs of its disabled citizens;
Local authorities assume direct responsibility for these services and invests in them
because they are relevant and necessary for the community.
DPOs are partners in development and decision-making. Ownership and partnership are
integral to sustainability.

5. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Equal opportunity means people with disabilities have the right to the same opportunities as others.
But it is not just the opportunity,but also the outcome that is crucial.persons with disabilities must
alsohave the opportunity to experience equal outcomes as others, to have impact in their own lives
and those of others. Equal outcomes means that persons with disabilities are recognized as citizens,
as voters, as having equal right as everyone else. When we talk about ‘equal opportunity’ we are
referring to the right to be citizen. CBR facilitates the process where communities are enabled to
serve all its citizens. This also means enabling PEOPLE with disabilities to alse serve their
community, to contribute to the community in order to make development MEANINGFUL FOR
ALL.
The WHO states that the minimum amount of water needed by a family for daily needs is 250
liters. The poorest of the poor in Manila cannot afford water meters ( costing up to P2,000 each).
They must then pay P30 per 200liters of water, purchased from an owner’s source. There is no
guarantee this water is clean. Meantime, owners of water meters pay only P4 for the same 200
liters of water. The poorest pay 750% mor for water than the more wealthy! There is no equal
opportunity. The outcome is that the poorest people lose P780 per month, which they could
otherwise have used for food, medicines and essentials; they can no longer afford services. As it
is they called lack enough clean water, and are more exposed to infection and dehydration. This in
turn puts the poor at greater risk during pregnancy. The Millenium Development Goal of halving
the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water between 1990 and 2015 can only
be reached by addressing such inequalities. To ensure equal opportunity and equal outcome,the
government could ensure access to safe water for everyone: provide free water meters so that
everyone can have flowing water; in rural areas, provide pumps and/or ensure water from wells is
clean. This minimies health and sanitation risks and allows poorer families to use scarce financial
resources to access health clinics,schools and other essential services

6. ACCESSIBILITY
Accessibility means removing all physical, attitudinal,technological and communication barriers.
These barriers prevent the majority of persons with disabilities from:
Being independent
Going to school
Getting on transport and into public buildings and places
Communicating with others
Being treated equally
Being full citizens
The Accessibility Law (RA344) demands strict compliance; that ALL built environments are
designed so that they can be easily and safely reached and used by people with or without
disabilities. Ramps should have a maximum 1:12 incline; open spaces should be given defined
edges (to orient those with visual impairment);pedestrian crossings should have timed traffic
lights, giving all pedestrians the right to cross in a reasonable time;emergency exit shouldhave
flashing and sound signals.
Accessibility refers to the right to have access to:
 1. Buildings and built environments,
2. Road and transportation,
3. Information,
4. Communication ( and public terminology should be non-discriminating), and
5. Technology
Accessibility is an entry point for an inclusive society,is crucial for CBR to work, and benefits
everyone.
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER NO.437& GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF CBR

ANTERO, MARIBEL V.
BAUTISTA, HEIDI R.
BERBOSIDAD, JUSTINE E.