Rehabilitasi Berbasis Komunitas dalam Penanganan Difabel: Studi Kasus Penanganan Difabel di Yayasan Khadijah Sharaswaty Indonesia di Kota Medan

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, live with significant disabilities. In Indonesia, the number of persons with disabilities reaches 22.97 million, or 8.5% of the total population, while in North Sumatra, there are 22,622 recorded individuals. These facts highlight the urgent need for an effective and holistic strategy to address disability-related issues. Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy aimed at improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities through community empowerment. This study aims to analyze the implementation of CBR in managing persons with disabilities at the Khadijah Sharaswaty Indonesia (KSI) Foundation in Medan City. The research method used is qualitative with a case study approach. The findings indicate that KSI has implemented the five core components of CBR—health, education, livelihood, social inclusion, and empowerment—by collaborating with various partners and relevant institutions. Nevertheless, there are several challenges, such as a lack of professional personnel, limited funding, an underdeveloped evaluation system, and persistent societal stigma. Therefore, it is recommended that KSI involve social workers, psychologists, and special education professionals to establish a more effective rehabilitation program. The community is encouraged to collectively foster an inclusive environment, and parents are urged to enhance their literacy and understanding of disability issues and appropriate parenting