Rehabilitation an international perspective: A Zimbabwean experience

Purpose/Method: The article discusses rehabilitation practices in Zimbabwe from both a local and international perspective. It considers the nature of formal and informal rehabilitation services in the country, and rehabilitation personnel training. Results: Indigenous disability-related practices dominate the informal rehabilitation sector whereas modern rehabilitation practices characterize the formal rehabilitation sector. Rehabilitation clients make use of both the formal and informal rehabilitation systems. Persons with disabilities in Zimbabwean urban centres have more access to the formal rehabilitation service system than those in the rural areas. Conclusions: Rural communities may have more habilitation than rehabilitation, and are more accommodating of disability-related differences.