Physical & Social Rehabilitation for PwDs
Rehabilitation is about restoring someone’s physical, social, vocational, and mental capabilities so that inclusion happens. The Association of People with Disability (APD) is unique as a rehabilitation service provider that looks at all aspects of rehabilitation for the inclusion of persons with disability (PwDs).
Every program at APD follows a lifecycle approach where physical, social, mental, educational and vocational inclusion is addressed.
Program Objective
Create inclusion for PwDs by restoring their physical, social, vocational and mental capabilities. That is the true meaning of rehabilitation.
APD’s Approach
APD lifecycle approach for inclusion of PwDs is based on the WHO recognized the transdisciplinary model.
The primary drivers of our programs are not professionals such as nurses, doctors, psychologists, etc., but community workers trained on clear protocols set for the programs. This allows APD greater reach and scalability to benefit PwDs in the remote corners of Karnataka.
Of course, we also have professional physio, speech and language, and occupational therapists as well as consulting psychologists and medical doctors, etc., coming in at APD. We invite them to volunteer, train, visit our districts and conduct assessments, etc., to maintain the intensity and outcome of programs such as the highly specialized Spinal Cord Injury Program.
Established in 2010, the CBR matrix by WHO states that for PwDs to be completely rehabilitated, they must undergo five different things. There are 5 pillars and APD is one organization that does everything in the CBR matrix.
Out of the 25 key components, APD delivers on 23. And it’s working towards reaching all 25.
THERAPY SERVICES AT APD
Various forms of therapeutic intervention are provided to PwDs to achieve independent mobility and functional ability, such as:
- Physiotherapy
- Hydrotherapy (for children)
- Massage therapy (for children with cerebral palsy (CP))
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Visual Therapy
APD offers therapy services through:
- Institutional Intervention: Experienced therapists conduct detailed assessments and prescribe home-based or centre-based therapy, assistive devices or surgical referrals. APD’s counsellors actively engage parents and caregivers in the therapy process. Periodical reassessment is conducted to determine further therapy, educational or livelihood training needs.
- Rural and Urban Community Therapy Program: APD takes rehabilitation to the community via programs such as weekly Taluk clinics in Magadi and Bangarapet and orientation in Davangere, Bijapur and Chikkaballapur districts of Karnataka.
Dedicated teams work in several remote centres on capacity building, training and sensitizing the community.
OPD REHABILITATION UNIT
APD’s Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Unit was established in December 1988. Earlier only institutional, it soon became an outreach program in urban and rural communities. APD followed the transdisciplinary approach much before WHO recognized the act in 1978.
The unit also takes care of therapy needs for Shradhanjali integrated School, all APD programs as well as outpatients.
