In Africa however, the conditions of poverty, the constraints in training opportunities, and lack of organisational efficiency reduces the effectiveness of DPOs' contributions to this partnership from the very outset. Traditionally DPOs devote themselves to lobby for human rights. In developing countries and in Africa in particular, DPOs are more involved in public education and sensitisation about the problems and needs of disabled people, and in initiating and participating in different aspects of rehabilitation interventions. In some of these countries, apart from the departments of social affairs, it is the DPOs which are actively involved in rehabilitation interventions. DPOs have certain areas of expertise which can be of great use to CBR programmes.
Disabled persons can express their problems better than anyone else.
They can also function as militants, lobbying for other disabled persons. They can promote effective self help groups for experience sharing and motivating others. They can mobilise communities and exert influence on decision makers and professionals, to enhance the participation of disabled people in society. The major role of disabled persons thus would be to show and educate the community by example, that disabled people have the potential to become contributing members of society. DPOs can also help in research activities such as identification of the needs, problems and appropriate solutions for disabled people, organisation of debates at appropriate fora to exchange ideas, and evaluation of programmes initiated to improve them further.