Services for People with Intellectual Impairments

view large Image Marcy (9) working with fieldworker Charity Wangiru. In the background her mother Ani and her little brother. The mentally impaired girl has cerebral palsy.
Marcy (9) working with fieldworker Charity Wangiru in Kikuyu Kenya. In the background her mother Ani and her little brother. The mentally impaired girl has cerebral palsy. © CBM / Argum / Einberger
Intellectual disabilities can not be treated or cured. But there are ways to improve the quality of life for the intellectually impaired. CBM engages in programmes which enable people with intellectual disabilities to fully participate in community life. This moreover promotes equal rights for these people and the respect by other citizens.

Focus on family and community
Today the intellectually impaired constitute a significant grouping among the entire people with disabilities. To meet their needs CBM strongly supports community- and family-based rehabilitation services. The focus is on:
  • early detection and intervention
  • provision of appropriate education and occupational skills for the intellectually impaired
  • training for and counselling of family members, teachers and community workers
  • education of the public to achieve a general change of the attitude

Support for an increasing number
In 2004, over twelve thousand children and adults with intellectual impairment benefitted from projects supported by CBM worldwide. CBM intends to further increase the number.

In Figures

In 2006,
  • 32,700 (2005: 21,640) intellectually impaired people were reached by CBM-supported programmes
  • 21 (23) integrated education programmes included more than one disability
  • CBM supported 15 (15) rehabilitation centres, 14 (15) resource centres and 3 (4) livelihood programmes
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CBM active in post-emergency phase on the ground in Haiti

Washline had a femur fracture treated with an internal fixator and still needs crutches to walk. Port-au-Prince after the earthquake which hit Haiti on 12 January 2010.

CBM has raised more than two million EUR for Haiti's Emergency response and reconstruction programmes. The situation in the Haitian capital remains tough for persons with disabilities. Photo: CBM

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CBM supports Partner in Concepción, Chile

A collapsed building in Talca, approximately 300 km (186 miles) south of Santiago, Chile. A magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck the Latin American country in the early hours of February 27, 2010. Picture copyright: Reuters/Victor Ruiz Caballero, courtesy www.alertnet.org

Picture copyright: Reuters/Victor Ruiz Caballero, courtesy www.alertnet.org
Following the 8.8-magnitude earthquake with epicentre close to the Chilean city of Concepción and aftershocks, CBM will support its Partner in the region. CBM has one Partner Project in need of reconstruction, located in Concepción, the country's second largest city.

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Projects worldwide

Projects worldwide