Thus disabled people become the objects, not the subjects, of their rehabilitation. They are trained to jump through hoops and are graded for their performance. This sometimes happens when disabled people themselves take the reins and begin to restructure the programme on their terms. At the opposite end of the CBR spectrum are small community programmes run by disabled people, or by the families of disabled children. These tend to be woefully disorganized and very exciting.
Every programme is different.
In the best ones, disabled people become peer counsellors and skilled technicians. Some make low-cost wheelchairs, orthopaedic appliances, prosthetics, and a wide range of rehabilitation aids. In some of the most outstanding CBR programmes that I have visited, I have observed that exceptional rehabilitation professionals are playing a vital role in the success of these programmes. These professionals tend to be humble but iconoclastic individuals who are willing to go into the community, share their knowledge, and learn from the people as equals. But even more important to the success of a CBR programme is the leadership of disabled people themselves.