Coimbra demands “universal personal assistance” for citizens with disabilities or disabilities

Not even heavy rain deterred the Coimbra delegation from the Vida Independente em Marcha collective from demanding compliance with legislation that guarantees “conditions of access and exercise of citizenship rights, through their participation in different contexts of life, on equality with other citizens and citizens.”

João Rodrigues and Catarina Vitorino, members of the collective, explained to RUC their motivations for marking the European Day of Independent Living (May 5th) with gatherings in several cities across the country. Vila Real, Braga, Guimarães, Porto, Lisbon, Faro and Azores (in São Miguel) responded to the call, Coimbra was no exception.

Despite what is established in Decree-Law No. 129 of 2017, there is still a lot to be accomplished. According to Catarina Vitorino, only around 1% of the population covered by the decree-law benefits from support.

Personal assistance “is a tool that allows you to actively participate in the community”, says Catarina Vitorino, also a PhD student at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Coimbra. “Personal assistance” is not yet a reality that reaches everyone who needs it.

João Rodrigues is a computer programmer, a profession he practices at home for a company in the Vila Nova de Gaia area. The activist explains the various areas for which law enforcement is crucial to quality of life.

Law No. 4/2019, of January 10, created the employment quota system for people with disabilities, under certain conditions. Catarina Vitorino reports that the law “is not applied” nor sufficiently “monitored”.

Exercising political and social rights, studying, working, watching shows or practicing adapted sports are fundamental to the exercise of full citizenship.

In Coimbra, the concentration “Vida Independente Em Marcha: For the Rights of people with Disabilities” was part of the Popular Celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April.

You can listen to the RUC’s conversation with the activists in the podcast at the beginning of the article.

Photography: RUC@Isabel Simões