International Course in Disability and Rehabilitation Management
Introduction
Enablement is operating in the field of disability and rehabilitation management and is particularly concerned with people with disabilities in lesser-developed countries. Its specific strengths lie in the areas of policy development, applied research and training in disability and development issues. Enablement, based in Alphen aan den Rijn, in the Netherlands, was set up by Huib Cornielje a rehabilitation expert with vast experience in various projects in southern Africa, researcher and trainer. The development of Enablement is largely in response to several needs and demands made in the above areas. Enablement began as a research and development agency and later added training programmes in disability and development to their activities. The International Course in Disability and Rehabilitation Management was taken over from the Hogeschool of Leiden by Enablement. Between 1996-2000, this 4-week course was taught eight times to various groups of rehabilitation professionals from a wide variety of countries.
Enablement is convinced that the role of people with disabilities within the field of development and rehabilitation should become more prominent than it has been so far. Promising developments related to advocacy and emancipation of people with disabilities are taking place in many parts of the world. These changes require increasingly innovative professionals who can and will be able to adapt to the changing nature of their role in this field. This shift is possibly most apparent in the context of rehabilitation paradigms: a move from conventional bio-medical models to more socio-political models of rehabilitation.
Enablement has an extensive network of contacts with organisations and agencies in both governmental and non-governmental sectors. This network includes universities, research and training institutions as well as disability organisations throughout southern Africa, Asia, and South America and Europe.
Enablement promotes sustainable rehabilitation sectors and their development throughout the world as well as promoting an active participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. Participation of people with disabilities is acknowledged and stimulated as an essential and fundamental right and pre-requisite for a viable, appropriate and efficient development in this sector.
Areas of expertise of Enablement include
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rehabilitation policy development at local and national levels and culturally appropriate;
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development of Community Based Rehabilitation systems;
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participatory planning and implementation of rehabilitation programmes;
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institutional development of the disability sector;
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evaluation of rehabilitation programmes; and
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disability training and development.
Methods of work
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short term assistance, formulating proposals, monitoring and evaluation of projects;
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long term assistance to rehabilitation programmes and projects;
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rehabilitation systems research; and
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development and execution of training programmes in the fields of disability, rehabilitation and development.
Background to the International Course in Disability and Rehabilitation Management
During 1995, The Hogeschool in Amsterdam and The Hogeschool Leiden administered a European-based needs-analysis in the area of disability training and development. One of the significant conclusions was that (senior) rehabilitation professionals were increasingly confronted with tasks in the area of training and education, policy development and management. While this is true for local rehabilitation personnel and disability activists, even expatriate rehabilitation workers seem to be confronted more and more with management tasks and training. The temporary character of the position of the expatriate professional requires that the professional should specifically have facilitative and supportive functions geared towards the tasks of training, education, policy development and management.
Increasing acknowledgement of the pivotal role of people with disabilities in their own rehabilitation process also requires a shift in thinking among rehabilitation professionals. This particularly applies to western-trained and bio-medically trained rehabilitation staff.
Two key persons were responsible for the overall development of the course. However, during the process of development, continuous discussions with experts in the field were held. After extensive consultations with various European organisations involved in disability and development work, a team of professionals developed the first course.
The courses from 2000 onward will not only be administered by a different organisation but the structure and, to some extent, the content will also be adapted. A major change is formed by the additional post-course assignment. After finishing the core part of this 4-week training, this compulsory assignment will allow participants to work on a specific project in their own context. This project can be done in various ways. Some examples are:
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analysing and problem-solving of specific management problems in the project area;
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conducting an in-depth study of a specific interesting or challenging disability issue in the project area; and
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doing a literature study concerning a specific subject related to disability and development.
Participants will be encouraged to finish such a project no later then 6 months after finishing their studies. The results of these projects need to be presented in the form of a project document, paper or report. Participants may ask for support and guidance during the post-course assignment. After submitting the results of this assignment, comments will be made by the course co-ordinator. Where necessary experts will be consulted to share their views.
Another change in the programme is the opportunity to follow, on request, specific elective modules. A sufficient number of students are needed however, to take part in such activities.
Participants will discuss the trends of rehabilitation in lesser-developed countries. Service models will be compared with socio-political models of empowerment, emancipation and integration of the disabled in society. The importance of the (global) primary health care movement and community development approach will receive a great deal of attention. The role of rehabilitation professionals and disability activists in the development, delivery and organisation of rehabilitation programmes in lesser-developed countries will be explored. The enhancement of management skills and a sound knowledge of policy development in rehabilitation are indispensable aspects of our education objectives. This means a focus on issues such as:
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research (for policy and development);
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sustainable development, within the cultural parameters of each country/region;
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the use of management information systems;
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the importance of community participation in development, implementation and management of rehabilitation and disability programmes; and
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equity principles and the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration as pillars of rehabilitation and disability policy.
Goals of the training course
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to empower rehabilitation personnel with appropriate skills and knowledge necessary for the efficient management of Community Based Rehabilitation programmes;
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to create a group of powerful advocates for the recognition of disability as a prime development issue; and
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to build a critical body of knowledge which will assist (prospective) rehabilitation workers and disability activists in contributing to the effective development of rehabilitation programmes.
Target group
An experienced international group of disability and rehabilitation participants, such as:
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local (senior) staff of Community Based Rehabilitation programmes;
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initiators and members of disability organisations;
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policy makers and planners in the area of disability and development;
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advocates of disability issues; and
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expatriate (professional) staff working in the area of disability and development.
Course content
This 4-week course will commence with a pre-course assignment which consists of several tasks. A report on this assignment will be presented by each participant during the first week of training. As part of the pre-course assignment participants will be asked to provide the course secretary with a list of their personal learning goals. These individual goals will be considered in defining the final course outline.
The course is divided into a number of core modules:
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Philosophy of rehabilitation: theory and praxis
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Policy development in rehabilitation
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Policy implementation
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Training and presentation
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Project management
Opportunities will be provided to study specific subjects. These elective modules can only be given if sufficient numbers of participants take place in the course. Yet, as part, and/or in preparation of a compulsory 'post-course assignment' specific interests can be further explored. Suggested topics for elective modules may be:
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Care of elderly people
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Management of children with special needs
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Management of visual disabilities
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Management of post-polio paralysis
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Management of clubfeet
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Management of people with leprosy
Teaching approach
Case studies will be used to achieve the variety of educational objectives. A flexible learning method will be used. This places the learner in a situation between real experience and cognitive learning in an attempt to develop the students' ability to apply abstract concepts and enhance analytical skills. This training method requires active participation from the student in order to achieve full benefits. Pre-session preparation is a compulsory part of the course as well as a post-course project assignment. A variety of modern educational methods will be used in this course, for example:
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workshops with (limited numbers of) guest lecturers
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role play
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syndicate work
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experiential learning
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small group discussions
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project assignments
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portfolio development
Output
After successfully finishing this course the participants will:
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have a clear vision on disability and development;
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be knowledgeable about policy and management of Community based Rehabilitation;
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be able to initiate, manage and evaluate projects;
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understand the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration; and
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have a positive attitude towards participatory approaches.
Language
This international course will be conducted in English.
Location
The course can possibly be given in Europe, Asia, Africa or South America. When in the Netherlands, the courses will be given at the Landelijk Diensten Centrum of the SOW-kerken, Joseph Haydnlaan 2, in Utrecht.
Course Length
Four weeks, however, variable lengths can be discussed if tailor-made programmes are developed.
Study Load
This is an intensive 4-week course with compulsory pre-course assignments and a follow-up assignment for all participants.
Frequency
The course will be conducted twice a year. Once a year a course will be given in Europe and once a year a course will be given in another region. Partnerships with local training institutions will be formed in order to: build local capacity through training of trainer elements in these programmes; and provide opportunities for participants form one region to study locally, to promote regional developments, and to facilitate networking. Size of group
The course can accommodate a minimum of six persons and a maximum of twelve.
Teaching staff
The courses are conducted under the leadership Mr Huib Cornielje. A number of European trainers with disability service development experience ranging across Africa and Asia will be responsible for specific subjects during the course.
When the course is given in a particular lesser-developed country, local trainers will be involved.
The following trainers are on a regular basis involved in the course:
Mr. H. Cornielje, Enablement and Hogeschool Leiden, The Netherlands
Prof. P. Devlieger, University of Leuven, Belgium
Ms. K. van Dijk, Consultant Low-Vision, The Netherlands
Ms. C. Fenenga, CORDAID, The Hague, The Netherlands
Mr. H. Finkenflugel, SOVAK, The Netherlands
Mr. B. Treffers , Disability Activist, European Disability Forum, The Netherlands
Ms. M. van der Kroft, CORDAID, The Hague, The Netherlands
Mr. M. Miles, Birmingham, UK
Dr. R.Reis, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mr. P. Reyer, PHC Consultant, The Netherlands
Mrs. H. Verhoeven, Management and Development Foundation, Ede, The Netherlands
Eligibility participants should have experience in rehabilitation, disability work or Community Based Rehabilitation diploma or degree in (allied) health, education, social sciences or sufficient experience support of employers Course fees and expenses fees (including tea/coffee): NLG 6,200 accommodation(incl. all meals): NLG 2,500 pocket money: variable travelling: variable Course Secretary
Huib Cornielje
Enablement
Langenhorst 36
2402 PX Alphen aan den Rijn
Tel: ++31-172-436953
Fax: ++31-172-244976
e-mail: h.cornielje@enablement.nl
website: www.enablement.nl
application form: http://www.enablement.nl/form.htm
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