Tsukuba, Japan—The World Health Organization (WHO) has long promoted community-based rehabilitation (CBR) as a practical strategy for building inclusive communities, in which persons with disabilities can fully participate. The CBR framework, comprising health, education, livelihood, social, and empowerment components, has been implemented in more than 100 countries. Evidence suggests that CBR activities improve access to rights and opportunities for social participation. However, most previous evaluations relied on qualitative data. To address this gap, in 2017, the WHO introduced standardized quantitative CBR indicators (CBR-Is), including 40 items designed to identify community needs and guide interventions.
In Japan, critical barriers to employment and social participation persist for persons with disabilities. To better understand these challenges and promote social inclusion, University of Tsukuba research team developed a Japanese version of the CBR-Is (J-CBR-Is). The goal was to ensure that J-CBR-Is could serve as a culturally adapted tool for assessing community and individual needs in Japan.
Following WHO approval, J-CBR-Is was translated into Japanese, in accordance with international guidelines for linguistic and cultural adaptation, including expert review and cognitive debriefing. To assess its reliability and validity, an online survey was conducted among persons with and without disabilities in Japan. Participants responded to J-CBR-Is based on their circumstances and experiences. Statistical analyses demonstrated strong internal consistency, high test-retest reliability, and construct validity, confirming that J-CBR-Is is suitable for use in Japan.
The validated J-CBR-Is provides a standardized framework for evaluating CBR activities and monitoring social inclusion in Japan. It supports evidence-based community development and facilitates international comparisons aligned with global disability inclusion goals.
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This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKEN HI Grant Number 22K13557.
Title of original paper:
Development and validation of the Japanese version of Community-Based Rehabilitation Indicators
Journal:
Disability and Rehabilitation
DOI:
10.1080/09638288.2025.2588062
Associate Professor GOTO, Ryohei
Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba
Disability and Rehabilitation
Development and validation of the Japanese version of Community-Based Rehabilitation Indicators
20-Nov-2025