The Municipal Council of Viana do Castelo approved, in an ordinary executive meeting, the proposal for the “Nautical for All” project, which the municipality promotes in partnership with the Portuguese Association of Parents and Friends of Mentally Disabled Citizens (APPACDM) and the Groups of Schools, supporting students identified as having disabilities in classes that attend nautical activities.
Thus, in the current academic year, the project includes 67 APPACDM users, with the City Council granting monthly support worth 5 thousand euros to the association, with a view to inclusion in curricular activities in the physical motor expression of swimming in the 1 .º CEB and nautical in the discipline of physical education, in the 2nd and 3rd cycles and secondary, adapted, in all educational and teaching establishments in the groups, providing students with disabilities with the practice included in the respective classroom.
According to the approved proposal, “the City Council has developed strategies for the inclusion of students with disabilities and disabilities from education and teaching establishments in school groups in municipal projects, namely Swimming in the 1st CEB and Water Sports in the 2nd, 3rd cycles and secondary”.
This project takes place in a “perspective of equal opportunities for all”, which is based on collaboration between the Municipality, APPACDM and school groups.
”Considering this support given to students identified as having special educational needs and the intention of continuing this project of including everyone in swimming and nautical activities, as well as responding to other projects involving the municipality during the year, it becomes necessary renew the existing protocol between the Municipality and APPACDM”, explains the proposal.
In the first year of Náutica para Todos, academic year 2016/2017, 30 students from two school groups were involved in the project. Since then, the initiative has grown year after year, increasing social inclusion through sport.
