How Physical Rehabilitation is Changing the Lives of Children with Disabilities in Nepal
Stories | August 5, 2026
Aaradhana is the youngest of five children in a family from Bardiya district in Nepal. Her parents work as migrant labourers in India, doing everything they can to support their family of seven.
Born in 2018, Aaradhana developed a visible knee impairment as she grew. Walking was painful, and simple things - like going to school or playing with friends - became a struggle. She often missed classes and watched from the sidelines while others ran and played.
Her parents tried to find help, but it wasn’t easy. They were unable to access the medical care she needed, and repeated attempts to obtain a disability identification card - essential for government support - were unsuccessful.
It felt like they had run out of options.
Everything changed when a local ward representative, who also has a disability, encouraged the family to attend a free mobile health camp. The camp was organised by CBM’s local parter, the Friends of the Disabled/Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (FOD/HRDC), at the Provincial Rehabilitation Centre in Kohalpur. It was part of a CBM-supported project aimed at improving mobility and independence for people with disabilities in remote areas of Nepal by increasing access to physical rehabilitation services.
At the camp, doctors assessed Aaradhana and recommended surgery at the HRDC hospital in Banepa.
It was a moment of hope - but also worry. Aaradhana’s parents desperately wanted her to receive treatment, but they simply could not afford the travel and other costs. Her father missed the first appointment, unsure how they could move forward.
When the project team later visited the family at home, they saw the challenges first-hand. Not willing to let Aaradhana miss out, they stepped in to cover the costs of transport, food, and treatment - removing the barriers that had been standing in the way.
In January 2024, Aaradhana finally had her surgery.
With ongoing care and rehabilitation support close to home, she was given the best chance to recover and regain her strength.
Today, Aaradhana’s life looks very different.
She runs and plays with her friends, goes to school every day, and enjoys the simple joys of childhood that once felt out of reach.
Her story shows what can happen when barriers to care are removed. Through this work, CBM and our partners are helping ensure that cost, distance, and awareness are no longer barriers to participation for children like Aaradhana.
CBM Australia acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and thanks our implementing partner the Friends of the Disabled/ Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (FOD/HRDC).
To learn more about the physical rehabilitation work in Nepal, read the evaluation summary here.
https://www.cbm.org.au/stories/aaradhana
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