Persons with disabilities must have a meaningful role in decisions affecting their lives rather than remain passive recipients of rehabilitation and welfare services, participants at a three-day summit in Savar have stressed.
The Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Summit 2026, held from October 5 to 7 at Brac CDM, brought together more than 400 participants, predominantly children, young people with disabilities and caregivers, alongside government officials, development partners and disability rights organisations.
Organised by the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), with support from Liliane Fonds, the summit concluded with a youth-led declaration calling for greater participation, accountability and accessible opportunities.
CDD Executive Director Nazmul Bari said rehabilitation alone could not ensure inclusion without removing institutional barriers and enabling persons with disabilities to exercise leadership.
“Youth with disabilities should not only be heard; their decisions should be given priority,” youth representatives said.
Participants identified inaccessible education, inadequate skills training, limited employment, weak digital access and exclusion from decision-making as major obstacles.
A visually impaired participant described the difficulties of pursuing further education and employment after completing secondary school, despite receiving leadership training.
Liliane Fonds Programme Manager Alodia Santos said Bangladesh had made progress in community-based rehabilitation, but persistent barriers required stronger cooperation among government agencies, families, communities and organisations.
The summit also called for accessible information and services relating to mental health, sexual and reproductive health, stronger caregiver support and greater leadership opportunities for women and young people within organisations of persons with disabilities.
Disaster preparedness emerged as another priority, with participants highlighting inaccessible cyclone shelters, inadequate early-warning systems and insufficient rescue arrangements for persons with disabilities.
Department of Disaster Management Director Nitai Chandra Dey stressed that disaster warnings must be accessible to people with different disabilities.
Bangladesh National Social Welfare Council Executive Secretary Kamruzzaman Dulal, attending as chief guest, emphasised representation in decision-making and highlighted government initiatives concerning accessibility and social protection.
International inclusion adviser David Curtis also underscored the importance of partnerships and meaningful youth participation.
The summit called on government agencies, partner organisations, youth clubs and community groups to translate its declaration into practical action plans.
Marking CDD’s 30 years of work, the gathering reinforced a central demand: disability inclusion must be measured not merely by services delivered, but by who participates, who makes decisions and whose priorities shape policies.
