The Role of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) in Enabling Inclusion of Persons with Special Needs in Educational Programmes in Nigeria

Abstract

Inclusive Education seeks to provide equal opportunities for persons with special needs to receive formal or informal education alongside their peers. While several countries all over Africa are shifting towards the practice of inclusion, experience suggests that there are surmountable challenges associated with the process of transiting from theory to practice. This paper attempts to draw a link between inclusive education and community-based rehabilitation (CBR), and explains how CBR can contribute towards addressing most of the challenges. The paper also seeks to suggest recommendations that would ensure effective and sustainable inclusive education in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.