Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I.P.

The National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR, I.P.) participated in the Functional Diversity Meeting – promoting inclusion in the Network of Portuguese Theatres and Cinemas and in the Portuguese Network of Contemporary Art, organised by the Directorate-General for the Arts (DGARTES) and the Mission Structure for the Promotion of Accessibility (EMPA) with the support of the Municipality of Águeda, which took place on 1 July at the Águeda Arts Centre. This meeting brought together, for the first time, the two Networks managed by DGARTES, and aimed to reflect on the issues of accessibility, both for audiences and for workers and artists, also allowing to identify constraints and enhance the existence of a greater functional diversity of artistic projects in the cultural spaces of the Network of Portuguese Theatres and Cineteatros (RTCP) and the Portuguese Network of Contemporary Art (RPAC). “Good practices in cultural facilities” was the theme of the panel that took place in the morning and was attended by Helena Alexandre, Director of UIFD, representing the INR, I.P. In her speech, Helena Alexandre, defended the existence of teams of qualified and qualified professionals for the implementation of accessibility measures in culture, as a right of all people. He also defended the importance of strategic technical guidance documents and promoters of the alignment of concerted public policies, noting the importance of networking. The translation of this event into Portuguese Sign Language (LGP) was carried out by INR I.P. technicians, Luís Oriola and Sofia Figueiredo. In the afternoon, parallel round tables were held to discuss topics such as ‘Accessibility to equipment’, ‘Mediation and inclusive artistic practices’ and ‘Accessible and participatory programming’. The signing of a protocol between DGARTES and EMPA, with a view to promoting the improvement of the conditions of public access to cultural facilities that are part of the PSTN and RPAC, the certification of such facilities in terms of accessibility, as well as the training and diversified initiatives necessary for the implementation of these objectives also marked this initiative.

The National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR, I.P.) is conducting a public consultation to review and update the “Regulation of the Engineer Jaime Filipe Technological Innovation Award”, for a period of 30 working days, until 26 August 2024. Since 2000, the INR, I.P. has promoted and awarded the ‘Jaime Filipe Engineer Technological Innovation Award’ in honour of a person of recognised dedication and proactivity in the exercise of citizenship and social inclusion of people with disabilities, a nationally and internationally renowned inventor, with the registration of several patents for technological innovation in support products. Through the contributions received, this public consultation aims to incorporate the experience gained and the relevance to the current situation in the Regulation of this Prize, stimulating further research and the participation of civil society. All interested persons are invited to comment on its content by sending suggestions to the following e-mail address: INR-uifd@inr.mtsss.pt . Consult the Draft Regulation of the Engineer Jaime Filipe Technological Innovation Award and learn more about this procedure: Notice No 14412/2024/2 – Diário da República

On July 11, in the auditorium of CITEFORMA, in Lisbon, took place the Ceremony of Delivery of the Social Sciences and Humanities Award, Edition 2023. This award, created in 1995 by the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P., distinguishes academic works developed by students of Higher Education, public or private, that contribute to the production of scientific knowledge about disability and inclusion. The opening session of this ceremony was attended by Rodrigo Ramos, President of the Board of Directors of INR I.P.. This was followed by the intervention of Helena Alves, INR I.P. technician and President of the Jury of this award, who made a historical framework of the Social Sciences and Humanities Award and then moderated a round table with the participation of the awarded people. Inês Pereira Lopes, winner of the award, Joana Isabel Neto, 1st honourable mention, and Sérgio Duarte Oliveira, 2nd honourable mention, presented their scientific research developed in the area of inclusion and rehabilitation for people with disabilities and received from the hands of Marina Van Zeler, Vice-President of INR I.P., and Olga Figueiredo, Director of the Centre for Integrated Vocational Education and Training - CEFPI, the certificates and art pieces that distinguished the winning works. To make known the future plans for the continuity of this award, Helena Alexandre, Director of the Research, Training and Development Unit, spoke at the third part of this ceremony. Marina Van Zeller, gave the closing speech, thanking all the people involved in the success of this edition for their collaboration. If you did not have the opportunity to be present at this ceremony, watch the video with automatic subtitling in Portuguese and interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language, at: https://tinyurl.com/6n8fjk3j

On the day 4 January , we celebrate the World Braille Day , a greater symbol of literacy, autonomy and inclusion for blind and low-sighted people. In an increasingly digital world, Braille remains an essential tool for ensuring access to information, communication and full participation in society. As Mary Pat Radabaugh said in 1993: “For most people, technology makes things easier; for people with disabilities, technology makes things possible.” This idea is particularly relevant when we think of the convergence between Braille e Artificial Intelligence (AI) . Far from posing a threat, technological innovation can open up new opportunities to strengthen Braille reading and writing by promoting inclusive and accessible solutions. In order to deepen this reflection, the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR), and Core for Braille and Leit's Complementary Means ura , organise an webinar Dedicated to the topic on the day 15 January 2026 . This event will: Explore How AI Can Power Braille , automating processes and facilitating the production of accessible materials; Submit academic, pedagogical and user perspectives ; Discuss Future scenarios for a more inclusive society. Panel of Experts: Moderator: Rui Batista (Núcleo Braille) Speakers: Ângelo Abrantes – Retired lecturer and proficient Braille user; Isabel Anacleto – Special Education Teacher in the Field of Vision; Rafael Martins – Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind (Brazil); and Tiago Guerreiro – Associate Professor in the Department of Informatics of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon Webinar: Braille and Artificial Intelligence – Opportunities and Challenges Date: 15 January 2026 (Thursday) Time: 17h00 – 18h30 (Continental Portugal) | 14h00 – 15h30 (Brasília – Brazil) Format: Online , via Zoom Webinar Duration: 1.30 a.m. Link to registration: https://tinyurl.com/yuv36udd Sign up and join us in this reflection on technology, accessibility and inclusion! Image generated by artificial intelligence.

The Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I.P. (IDiPD, I.P.) participated, as a member and national representative of Portugal in the Ibero-American Program on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PID), in the launch session of the Ibero-American Observatory on Disability and the Labour Market, an initiative promoted by the ONCE Social Group, through the ONCE Foundation for Latin America (FOAL), in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (BID Lab), the Ibero-American Social Security Organization (OISS) and the Ibero-American Program on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PID). The new Observatory is a regional platform aimed at strengthening the production, harmonisation and dissemination of statistical data on disability and the labour market, providing comparable information to support evidence-based public policy-making, promote the labour inclusion of persons with disabilities and strengthen cooperation between Ibero-American countries. During the session it was widely recognised that the availability of reliable, up-to-date and comparable data is an essential tool to monitor the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to develop more effective and result-oriented public policies. Among the main stakeholders were Sabina Lobato, from the ONCE Foundation, who presented the experience of the ODISMET Observatory as a reference in monitoring labour inclusion; Jesús Martín Blanco, President of the Ibero-American Program on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PID), who highlighted the importance of producing scientific knowledge for the definition of public policies and presented the developments of the future Ibero-American Disability Card project; Gina Magnolia Riaño Barón, Secretary-General of the Ibero-American Social Security Organisation (OISS), who addressed the challenges of social protection and labour informality; and Nadine Gasman, an expert at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), who highlighted the need to enhance the quality, harmonisation and disaggregation of statistical data to better identify inequalities and guide inclusive public policies. Topics highlighted included the international harmonisation of disability indicators, the improvement of statistical information systems, the promotion of inclusive employment, the fight against multiple discrimination – with a particular focus on women with disabilities –, the strengthening of social protection and regional cooperation, as well as the development of the future Ibero-American Disability Card, a strategic initiative of the IDP aimed at facilitating the recognition of disability status and the mobility of persons with disabilities between participating countries. The participation of IDiPD, I.P. in this event, as Portugal's national representative in the IDP, reaffirms the Institute's commitment to strengthening Ibero-American cooperation and promoting evidence-based public policies, contributing to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to building more inclusive societies.

Baião hosts the National Festival of the “School Alert!” Competition Next day 12 June , will take place, no Group of Schools of Southeast Baião , the National Awards Ceremony of the Alert School! Competition 2025/2026 (22.ª edition). The choice of the host school reflects the recognition of the work developed in this edition, having the Group of Schools of the Southeast of Baião obtained the 1.º Category 2 award (2.º and 3.º cycles of Basic Education). Promoted by the Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (INR, I.P.), the competition distinguishes projects developed by students from Pre-School Education and Primary and Secondary Education that contribute to the promotion of inclusion, equal opportunities and the rights of persons with disabilities. “School Alert!” challenges the educational community to identify barriers to participation and to come up with concrete solutions that promote a more inclusive school and society, asserting itself as a reference initiative in promoting active citizenship. In the 2025/2026 edition, they were presented 48 applications , involving 2281 students and 267 teachers , from 45 schools distributed by 14 counties and the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira . The competition is organised in three categories: Category 1 – Pre-School Education and 1.º Cycle of Basic Education Category 2 – 2.º and 3.º basic education cycles Category 3 – Secondary education During the ceremony, the winning projects will be presented and trophies, diplomas and prize money awarded to the distinguished schools, worth 2,000 euros (1.º place), 1,000 euros (2.º place) and 750 euros (3.º place), in each category. Since its inception in the 2003/2004 school year, the “School Alert!” competition has already involved more than 33,000 students, around 4,400 teachers and more than 1,240 schools , highlighting the continuing commitment of the educational community to building a more just, accessible and inclusive society. More information is available at: School Alert Contest Award! - INR, I.P.

The Government approved the ‑lei decree Decree-Law No º 65/2026 of 5 March It creates the free ticket for persons with disabilities accompanying them in performances and cultural facilities managed by public authorities. The measure aims to promote cultural inclusion and accessibility, ensuring that no one is prevented from participating in cultural life by economic or practical barriers. Free of charge applies to museums, monuments, palaces, interpretative centres and performance venues of an artistic nature located in continental territory, provided that they are managed by the Public Administration, by entities of the corporate public sector or by public foundations. According to the diploma, each person with a disability is entitled to a free ticket for one accompanying person per session, provided that the disability is duly proven. The accompanying person’s ticket is non-transferable and is only valid when issued at the same time as the disabled person’s own ticket, for the same date and time. Proof of disability is made ‑se, in the case of residents in Portugal, through the Multipurpose Medical Disability Certificate, with a degree of disability equal to or greater than 60%. For foreign nationals, equivalent medical documentation is accepted. The law also obliges cultural promoters to adapt ticketing systems, ensuring the registration and control of these tickets, compliance with data protection rules and the availability of the free ticket in all sales channels, physical and digital, with accessibility and usability criteria equivalent to other tickets. The Inspectorate-General for Cultural Activities (IGAC), in liaison with the Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (formerly the National Institute for Rehabilitation), will be responsible for monitoring the measure and producing an annual report on its implementation, including the number of tickets issued and the impact on cultural accessibility. Entities covered have one year to adapt their IT systems, with a transitional regime allowing temporarily the manual issuance of free tickets.