National Institute for Rehabilitation

Applications for the ‘Accessible Beach, Beach for All!’ programme for the 2026 bathing season are open until 31 March. Applications for the award must be submitted by the respective entities with competence in the management of bathing areas: on mainland Portugal, to the Regional Hydrographic Administrations of the Portuguese Environment Agency to which they are assigned; in the Autonomous Regions of Madeira and the Azores, the Regional Directorate for the Environment and the Sea and the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies, respectively. The documentation to be submitted is contained in a Application Form and one Statement of Commitment (Annex 4) , which can be found on this page, where more information about the Programme is available, including the remaining annexes to the Form ( Annex 1 , Annex 2 e Annex 3 ), which spell out its main mandatory requirements, and the Award Rules . This program, which has been developed on the ground since 2005, through a partnership between the National Institute for Rehabilitation, the Portuguese Environment Agency and Category: Tourism in Portugal , aims to make as many Portuguese beaches as possible accessible and increasingly inclusive, with a view to ensuring equity, safety, comfort and dignity for all those who visit these important public leisure spaces, including people with disabilities and mobility limitations. In 2025, they were awarded 243 bathing areas , of which 179 are coastal and 64 inland, i.e. around 36% of all beaches officially classified as bathing waters, with the following geographical distribution: 220 on the mainland, 16 on the Azores and 7 on Madeira. About 87% of these beaches have already provided equipment to support bathing and the seaside promenade of people with restricted mobility, often with specialized support. Contacts: INR- praia.acessível@inr.mtsss.pt Documents available for download Beach Accessible 2026_Application form Annex1_2026 Annex2_2026 Annex3_2026 Annex 4 – Municipality’s Statement of Commitment 2026 Award rules 2026

O National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. promoted, on February 24, 2026, in the Noble Hall of the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security , in Lisbon, the Seminar on the Promotion of Autonomy and Independent Living, within the framework of the Ibero-American Disability Program . The initiative brought together institutional representatives, national and international experts and members of civil society, with the aim of promoting reflection and sharing of best practices in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities. The opening session was attended by Ana Gaspar, representing the Office of the Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion, who highlighted the relevance of public policies in promoting autonomy, social inclusion and equal opportunities. The Chairperson of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. , Sónia Esperto, who, as host, welcomed the participants to the session highlighting the relevance of the seminar as a space for dialogue, cooperation and knowledge sharing in the field of disability. In his speech, he stressed the importance of autonomy and independent living as fundamental pillars of the dignity, freedom and full participation of persons with disabilities, reinforcing the role of the INR as Portugal’s representative in the context of the Ibero-American Disability Program . The president also highlighted the path developed in the country through the Support Model for Independent Living (MAVI), highlighting the positive impact of personal assistance in improving the quality of life, as well as the need to continue investing in innovative, integrated and sustainable responses. Representatives of the Ibero-American General Secretariat and coordination of the programme. In the afternoon, the views of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities were presented, with contributions from international experts, followed by a reflection on the main challenges associated with independent living and access to adequate support. The interventions highlighted the importance of the person-centred approach and of ensuring conditions for full participation in society. One of the central moments of the seminar was the presentation of the Support Model for Independent Living (MAVI) and the course developed in Portugal, with the participation of INR technicians, associative representatives, beneficiaries and personal assistants. This session highlighted the positive impact of the model in promoting the autonomy, self-determination and quality of life of people with disabilities. The programme also included a panel dedicated to care and support agendas in Ibero-America, sharing experiences from Chile, Costa Rica, Spain and Uruguay, reinforcing the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of good practices in the area of disability. The seminar ended with the presentation of the conclusions and the institutional closure, reaffirming the commitment of the INR and the partner entities to building a more inclusive, just and accessible society based on respect for human rights and appreciation of diversity. At the time of closure, Sónia Esperto reinforced the importance of the event on a day when the new organic law that restructures the INR, now called Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, came out and also on the importance of the date, as 2026 also marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of Persons with Disabilities. In his closing speech, he reaffirmed the INR's commitment to promoting equal opportunities, personal autonomy and the full social participation of persons with disabilities, highlighting the importance of international cooperation, the collective construction of public policies and the valorisation of institutional partnerships. The Chair thanked all actors and participants for their input, underlining that the seminar was a privileged moment of learning and inspiration, able to strengthen commitments and drive concrete changes in the area of inclusion. The event is available on INR,I.P.'s youtube channel. here

No passado dia 13 de fevereiro, o Instituto Nacional para a Reabilitação, I.P. (INR) marcou presença nas comemorações do 37.º aniversário da ASSOL – Associação de Solidariedade Social de Lafões, no Cine Teatro Dr. Morgado, em Oliveira de Frades. Esta ocasião integrou também o lançamento do livro “Continuar a Caminhar para Avançar”, da autoria do Dr. Mário Pereira, que exerceu funções de Diretor Executivo da ASSOL durante 34 anos. Esta obra procura ser um testemunho do percurso, dos valores e das práticas que têm marcado a intervenção da Instituição ao longo do tempo. A participação do INR, IP neste momento simbólico reflete a relação de cooperação sólida e continuada que tem vindo a ser desenvolvida entre as duas entidades, assente na partilha de conhecimento, na promoção de práticas inovadoras e na defesa dos direitos das pessoas com deficiência. Esta parceria tem contribuído para uma maior aproximação às realidades do terreno e para o reforço das políticas públicas no domínio da inclusão. O lançamento da obra do Dr. Mário Pereira constituiu igualmente um espaço de reflexão e inspiração, destacando experiências, desafios e aprendizagens que cruzam o trabalho da ASSOL com os princípios que orientam a missão do INR. A presença institucional neste evento reafirma o compromisso conjunto com uma sociedade mais inclusiva, centrada na pessoa e no respeito pela diversidade. No final da sessão, a ASSOL ofereceu à Biblioteca do INR um exemplar do livro.

The National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR) participated, on January 16, in an awareness session dedicated to accessibility, held in the facilities of the Agency for State Technological Reform (ARTE) , addressed to students of the Master's Degree in Equipment Design Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon . The initiative was part of the curriculum project “Construction of the Ideal Day in the Citizen’s Shop” , developed in partnership with ARTE, and aimed to bring future designers closer to the issues of accessibility, inclusion and people-centred design. The session was structured in three complementary moments. In the first phase, with a sensitizing character, the participants were invited to “put on each other’s shoes”, through dynamics of role playing These allowed us to reflect on the difficulties experienced by people with different types of disability in a society that has often not been designed or built for everyone. In a second moment, of theoretical framework, an introduction was made to the Technical Accessibility Standards , approved by Decree-Law No 163/2006, with a particular focus on the concept of accessible route as the backbone of accessibility, underlining its importance in linking public space, buildings and services. The session culminated in a hands-on experience in the outdoor space, where participants were able to navigate the surroundings in a wheelchair and with their eyes blindfolded, making obstacles and constraints visible – albeit in a controlled context – that often remain invisible to those who do not experience them in their daily lives. In addition to the students and teachers involved in the project, the session also had the presence of technicians from ARTE and Cascais City Council , reinforcing the importance of collaborative work between public authorities, higher education and specialised technicians. With this type of actions, the INR reaffirms its commitment to promoting a culture of accessibility and inclusion, sensitizing future professionals to the responsibility that design, planning and technical decision have in the construction of truly universal public services.