01999nas a2200157   4500000000100000008004100001260004200042653001300084653001000097653001500107653004100122100001500163245009400178856010100272520146800373       2013                            d  bUniversity of TwenteaThe Netherlands10aReligion10aGhana10aDisability10aCommunity based rehabilitation (CBR)1 aVerhagen K00aThe christian belief system as empowering factor in community-based rehabilitation (CBR).  uhttp://www.enablement.nl/file.php/areas/enablement.nl/Library/Christian_belief_system_in_CBR.pdf3 a<p>Disability is perceived as ‘a result of sin’ (Bowers, 2004) or as ‘must be healed’ (Möller, 2012) in several countries. Given that the cause of disability often is sought within the family or in God (Treloar, 1999), it could be very well that attitudes about disability are related and attributed to religious belief systems. Since many people with disabilities encounter barriers and inequalities in society (WHO, 2011), the level of participation of persons with disabilities in society could be related to religious belief systems. Twenty persons with physical disabilities in the Kumasi Metropolis have been interviewed about their experiences with regard to physical disability, society, family, childhood and the Christian belief system. This study aimed to address the following research question: ‘how is the participation of persons with physical disabilities in society (Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana) related to the Christian belief system?’ It is found that negative and superstitious attitudes about disability are evident in society. Related to these attitudes, people with physical disabilities encounter barriers and inequalities in society. The Christian participants feel empowered by the Christian belief system and regard their disability as the decision of God. Based on these findings, recommendations are defined for community-based rehabilitation programs to optimize the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society.</p>