Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR)is the banner program of Simon of Cyrene.

First introduced by  the organization in 1987, the program is the most practical and feasible means of reaching out to persons with disabilities and the communities.

A divergence from the dole-out approach, CBR was designed to empower persons with disabilities and mobilize community support in addressing disability issues, promoting social inclusion and providing equal opportunity for all.

After three decades, SIMON’s CBR Program has grown and evolved into a strategy for Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID). The concept of inclusive development denotes that communities adapt their structures and procedures to facilitate the mainstreaming to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in all aspects of community life and provided with full access to services.

WHAT IS SIMON'S APPROACH?

SIMON promotes the rights of persons with disabilities and pursues the two-pronged approach of Partnership with the Local Government Units to mainstream disability in community development and Empowerment of the Disabled People’s Organizations to advocate for their rights and participate in the delivery of services to Persons with Disabilities

It employs empowerment and advocacy as a proactive strategy in promoting a “rights–based approach” to address disability issues. This strategy builds on the role of persons with disabilities, the families and communities, Disabled People’s Organizations, Local Government Units and other stakeholders in creating an inclusive and barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.