Making sense of rehabilitation projects: classification by objectives

Rehabilitation of disabled persons can take many different forms according to the socio-cultural and political context in which it is undertaken. Some approaches have emphasized the restoration of the physical function of the client, while others have looked beyond to psychological and social well-b eing, Some have built on the expertise of professionals while others have e mphasized the caring capacity available in the family and the community and sought to reinforce it. Besides providing a wide range of possible service s to disabled persons, rehabilitation seeks to change the attitudes that pr evail in society as a whole and promote the integration of disabled people into society with equal rights and opportunities. This paper reviews a rang e of models and approaches which have been put forward in the international debate on rehabilitation Furthermore, four dimensions are described which can be used to characterize and define classes of rehabilitation projects b ased on the objectives that are defined for them. Thus types of rehabilitat ion projects can be distinguished. Management, evaluation and technical sup port for rehabilitation projects need to take these essential characteristi cs into account.