Abstract
Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) strives to enhance quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families by increasing social participation and equalizing opportunities in the global south. Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals, CBR also aims to address the high rates of poverty faced by individuals with disability. Empowerment, a pillar of CBR, involves strengthening the capacity of people with disabilities, their families, and their communities to ensure reduction of disparities. This article outlines a scoping review that guided by the question: “What is known from the existing literature about the applicability of eLearning for capacity building in CBR?” This review did not uncover literature related to eLearning in CBR; however findings suggest that other disciplines, not explicitly tied to CBR, currently use eLearning to educate and empower professionals in the global south. We argue that eLearning technology could be an effective and sustainable solution for CBR programming in the global south for capacity development. Such technology could increase individuals with disabilities’ access to education and could provide opportunities for wider dissemination of knowledge, beyond typical funding cycles. With a goal of informing future CBR practice in eLearning, this article concludes by highlighting key lessons taken from other disciplines that have utilized eLearning in the global south.
Highlights
According to the World Report on Disability [1], over one billion, or approximately 10%–15%, of the world’s population has some form of disability
The empowerment pillar emphasizes the importance of strengthening the capacity of people with disabilities, their families and their communities to ensure the reduction of disparities [4]. As it relates to the empowerment pillar, we argue that electronic learning could be a potential solution to long-term and sustainable capacity building of people with disabilities, families, and communities to ensure full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. eLearning is becoming frequently used as a method of delivering education [5]
The scoping was guided by the research question: What is known from the existing literature about the applicability of eLearning for capacity building in community based rehabilitation (CBR)?
Summary
According to the World Report on Disability [1], over one billion, or approximately 10%–15%, of the world’s population has some form of disability. Individuals with disabilities often experience poorer health, less education and employment opportunities, and are over-represented in poorer countries [1]. As such, addressing global poverty, as well as the disparities among people with disabilities, must go hand in hand. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the new development agenda after the Millennium Development Goals, highlight disability in its goals to eliminate global poverty by 2030 [2]. It is estimated that 80% of individuals with disabilities live in isolated rural areas in developing countries [3]. By increasing support systems for people with disabilities through community development and building the capacities of members of the community, people with disabilities may have a better chance at equal opportunity and improving their quality of life.
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