Needs assessment in Community Based Rehabilitation of children with a physical disability: An analysis of successful facilitators

Abstract

The focus of this research is the process of needs assessment of children with a physical disability and their family as conducted by CBR facilitators. It is investigated if facilitators who are able to accurately identify the needs of child and families share common characteristics, which can be used in the selection of facilitators. Furthermore needs assessment characteristics in relation to methodology, approach and attitude towards needs and needs assessments are examined which may provide guidelines on how to train facilitators. Interviews have been conducted with 30 children and their family and 18 facilitators within six organisations in the Philippines. The needs as reported by child and family have been compared to the needs reported by facilitators to determine which facilitators are successful at conducting needs assessments. Subsequently is analysed which characteristics these facilitators exhibit, which methodology and approach they apply and which attitude towards needs and needs assessment they hold. This study shows that having a college degree, being a paid employee, not having a disability themselves or someone in the family with a disability and working in a rural area for a rural based organisation are facilitator characteristics which are associated with the ability to accurately identify needs. Needs assessment characteristics that increase the chance of accurately identifying needs are: applying a holistic approach and involvement of multiple forms and respondents.