Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

On 22 and 29 May, the last sessions of the Final Policy Making Online Event of the European project UNITY – Uniting Networks for Inclusive Democracy and Empowerment were held, bringing together participants from various countries with the aim of promoting the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in public policy-making. The event stood out for its participatory and inclusive approach, involving persons with disabilities, professionals and civil society organisations, and promoting the debate on rights, inclusion, accessibility and participation. IDiPD, IP was present in both sessions, contributing to the reflection and sharing of experiences in the promotion of more inclusive public policies. During the sessions, central themes for the inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities were addressed, namely the rights to parenthood, affective relationships and self-determination, access to health, education and information in accessible formats, as well as the importance of sex education and the prevention of violence. Structural challenges were also discussed, such as the persistence of barriers in communication, the need for more articulation between services and barriers to participation in international contexts. At the same time, the relevance of the training of self-representatives (self-advocates), the sustainability of participation initiatives and the promotion of person-centred approaches that strengthen autonomy, inclusion and the full exercise of rights were highlighted. The initiative thus reinforced the importance of the active participation of persons with disabilities in public policy-making, as well as the need to further invest in more inclusive practices and models.

The Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, IP (IDiPD) participated in the High-Level Conference “Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities: Empowerment and Support in a Community for All”, held in Limassol, Cyprus, on 7 May 2026, under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Participation took place in the framework of the Disability Platform, of which the IDiPD has the national representation, allowing to follow the main European developments on the rights of persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on supported decision-making, independent living and community-based support services. The Conference provided a relevant space for discussion and sharing of best practices among Member States, European institutions and civil society organisations, reinforcing the importance of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. One of the highlights of the event was the presentation by the European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, of the European Commission's Communication on strengthening the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the next five years. This reinforcement aims to consolidate the rights and protection of European citizens with disabilities, although organisations such as the European Disability Forum have taken the moment to call for more binding legislation and robust guarantees against institutionalisation. Among the priorities are accessibility, independent living, inclusive employment and combating poverty and discrimination, with a focus on the effective implementation of European legislation. The reinforcement of the Strategy includes high-impact initiatives such as the digitalisation of the European Disability Card, the development of assistive technologies and accessible AI, the strengthening of AccessibleEU and the creation of a European Alliance for Independent Living. The conference reinforced as a central message that autonomy and inclusion can only be fully realised by removing barriers and ensuring access to community-based support services.

The Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I.P., and Turismo de Portugal, I.P. decided to award the distinction "Accessible Festival" to the Lisbon Book Fair 2026, promoted by APEL - Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers, under the Accessible Festivals Programme 2026. The Lisbon Book Fair will take place from May 27 to June 14, 2026, at Eduardo VII Park in Lisbon. More information at Accessible Festivals Program - IDiPD, I.P.

The Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (IDiPD, I.P.) and the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth (IPDJ, I.P.) announce that the application period for the Sport + Accessible Award is open and runs from 15 May to 14 June. The winning project will receive a prize of 6000 €, awarded by the two Institutes, and 7 hours of online consulting specialized in volunteer management, worth 350 €, promoted by the partner Pista Mágica. Four honorable mentions will also be awarded, which will receive a prize of 1000€ and 5 hours of online consulting specialized in volunteer management, worth 250€, by Pista Mágica. The awarded projects will also be supported in the overall amount of €8,000, up to a maximum of €2,000 per project, by the Decathlon Foundation, in accordance with its regulatory conditions. For this edition of the Sport + Accessible Award, the following priority areas were considered: Accessibility and supporting products; Sport development; Training and research; Awareness raising and volunteering. Find out more about the Sport + Access Award HERE .

For many people who are blind or with low vision, using public transport remains a daily challenge. To promote greater autonomy, comfort and safety, an accessible route was created at Gare do Oriente, connecting the Oriente metro station to the quays of the Carris Metropolitana. This route has been developed to make travel simpler, more intuitive and more independent. And everyone is invited to try ‑lo! Accompanied visits Persons who are blind or with low vision can participate in guided tours by Guidance and Mobility Technicians of the partner associations. Registrations available HERE . Autonomous operation If you prefer to do it on your own, you can use: - Accessible Route Support Guide e - High Contrast Plant . These features are specially designed to enable autonomous and safe navigation. Your opinion is essential. Help us improve this journey and define even more effective accessibility solutions in the future. Leave your comments: WayFinding System Assessment Form Or send an e‑mail to: transportes@tmlmobilidade.pt