More than 1 billion people around the world live with disabilities; and 80% of them are from low-income countries, many from the WHO South-East Asia Region. Discriminatory practices and attitudes towards persons with disabilities have prevailed for centuries and resulted in their exclusion from mainstream developmental efforts. The number of persons with disabilities is increasing: war injuries, landmines, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, chronic diseases, substance abuse, accidents, environmental damage, population growth, exposure to hazards, medical advances that preserve and prolong life including neonatal interventions for high-risk babies – all contribute to this increase. As a consequence, there is an overwhelming demand for health and rehabilitation services. Compilation of community-based rehabilitation practices in the WHO South-East Asia Region World Health House Indraprastha Estate, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110002, India Website: www.searo.who.int SEA-Disability-6 SEA-Disability-6 Distribution: General Compilation of community-based rehabilitation practices in the WHO South-East Asia Region © World Health Organization 2013 All rights reserved. Requests for publications, or for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – can be obtained from Publishing and Sales, World Health Organization, Regional Office for South- East Asia, Indraprastha Estate, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110 002, India (fax: +91 11 23370197; e-mail:
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