News Details

Ibero-American Seminar on Promoting Autonomy and Independent Living

Updated : 12/02/2026

Poster of the event where you can read
Portugalwill host from 24 to 26 February 2026 the XIX Meeting of the Intergovernmental Council of the Ibero-American Program on Disability (PID), of which the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR) is the national representative.
The INRunder the Ibero-American Disability Programme, invites to participate in a meeting with international experts to promote the discussion on the promotion of autonomy and independent living, to take place in the February 24, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The seminar takes place in a hybrid format, at the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, in the Noble Hall (located in London Square, No. 2, in Lisbon - https://maps.app.goo.gl/2doCKxNpeQBRfdbZ6 - due to the capacity of the room, in-person registrations are closed) and through the following link Zoom, https://once.zoom.us/j/96200466213 .
Programme:

14:00 - Institutional opening

  • Ana Gaspar | On behalf of the Office of the Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion
  • Sónia Esperto | President of the INR Board of Directors

  • Martín Rivero | Coordinator of Social Cohesion and South-South Cooperation, Ibero-American General Secretariat

  • Jesús Martín | President of the IDP

14:20 - Perspectives of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Experts of the United Nations Committee

  • Natalia Guala Beathyate

  • Amalia Gamio Ríos

15:00 - Challenges to independent living

Facundo Chávez | AHuman Rights and Disability Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

15:40 - Pause

15:50 - The Portuguese case. Presentation of the Support Model for Independent Living (MAVI) and the journey to date

  • Teresa Varanda | Superior Technician of the Multidisciplinary Team of MAVI, Technical Support Office, INR, I.P.

  • Ana Isabel Gonçalves | Vice-President the Portuguese Association of Neuromusculars

  • Francisco Vicente | Beneficiary of personal assistance at CAVI de Almasã

  • Andreia Santos | Personal assistant at CAVI da Cavalo Azul

16:40 - Pause

16:50 - Care and support agendas: Experiences in Ibero-America

  • Pedro Goic Poroevic | National Director of the National Service for Persons with Disabilities (Senadis) of Chile

  • Bilbia González Ulate | Executive Director of the National Council for the Attention of Persons with Disabilities of Costa Rica

  • Jesús Martín Blanco | Director General for Disability Rights, Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 of the Government of Spain

  • Federico LezLover | DireTor Nacional of Disability, Ministry of Social Development of Uruguay

17:50 - Conclusions and institutional closure

Note: Program subject to last minute changes.

The Seminar has interpretation in Portuguese, Spanish, Portuguese Sign Language and International Gesture.