This book's basic premise is that disabled people themselves know best what their needs are and that they should be involved in the planning and delivery of relief and development initiatives. The most effective support that agencies can offer is to empower them to claim their basic human rights and their civil and legal rights. The text is based on the experience of Oxfam staff working before, during and after the crisis in Kosovo. Case studies from West Africa and South and East Asia show how the principles and training can be translated to a wide range of political and social contexts. It suggests practical materials particularly useful to trainers working in geographically isolated areas without access to sophisticated equipment. Most activities and exercises can be adapated for use in groups of people with a wide range of impairments and educational levels.