National Institute for Rehabilitation
Planning, Coordination and Implementation of National Policies for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I.P. at the Ibero-American Meeting on Disability
Portugal and the Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I.P. (IDiPD, I.P.), as national representative in the Ibero-American Program for Disability participated at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, to the Ibero-American Meeting for Disability, which took place at that Ministry, on 27 February 2026, in Madrid. The meeting was inaugurated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Mr José Manuel Albares, and was attended by the Ibero-American ambassadors accredited to Spain, and the Ambassador of Portugal accredited to Madrid, Mr José Augusto Duarte, also the Ibero-American Secretary-General and the authorities of the Ibero-American Disability Programme, of which this Institute is part. The meeting made it possible to identify the areas of disability that will be worked on in the framework of the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will take place on 4 and 5 November 2026 in Madrid, under the motto: "Ibero-America. Together we build our community. Together we project it for the future and for the world". Spain intends to strengthen its foreign policy in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities, for which it created the Embassy in Special Mission for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, becoming one of the two countries that include this figure in its external service around the world. As for the Ibero-American Initiatives for Inclusion and one of the areas of disability that will be worked on at the Madrid Summit will be the implementation of the Ibero-American Disability Card. This aims to recognize the disability condition in the Ibero-American space, thus facilitating access to benefits and services for persons with disabilities during their temporary travels in the region. This instrument, which strengthens "Ibero-American citizenship", will enable 90 million people with disabilities in Ibero-America to enjoy their rights on an equal basis with the rest of the population. This was, moreover, one of the themes addressed in the Agenda of the XIX Meeting of the Intergovernmental Council of the Ibero-American Program for Disability (PID), work that took place under the aegis of our IDID, I.P. as national representative in the Program and Portugal hosted for the first time that meeting, in Lisbon, work- which took place between 24 and 26 February 2026 and whose work took place at the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security of Portugal, in Lisbon. During the work of these days it was possible for the motor working group composed of jurists from five Ibero-American countries of the IDP to work, outline and present a draft pilot project of the Ibero-American Disability Card that will be taken to the XXX Ibero-American Summit of Heads of States and Government that will take place in Madrid in November 2026. The Ibero-American Disability Card will facilitate the recognition of rights and access to services for persons with disabilities in Ibero-American countries. This is one of the advances of Ibero-American Disability Program , promoted by Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the separate technical unit of which is the ONCE Social Group .
View highlight details Governo cria bilhete gratuito para acompanhante de pessoa com deficiência em equipamentos culturais públicos
O Governo aprovou o decreto‑lei Decreto-Lei n.º 65/2026 , de 5 de março que cria o bilhete gratuito para o acompanhante de pessoas com deficiência em espetáculos e equipamentos culturais geridos por entidades públicas. A medida tem como objetivo promover a inclusão e a acessibilidade cultural, garantindo que ninguém fica impedido de participar na vida cultural por barreiras económicas ou práticas. A gratuitidade aplica‑se a museus, monumentos, palácios, centros interpretativos e recintos de espetáculos de natureza artística situados em território continental, desde que sejam geridos pela Administração Pública, por entidades do setor público empresarial ou por fundações públicas. De acordo com o diploma, cada pessoa com deficiência tem direito a um bilhete gratuito para um acompanhante por sessão, desde que a deficiência esteja devidamente comprovada. O bilhete do acompanhante é intransmissível e só é válido quando emitido em simultâneo com o bilhete da própria pessoa com deficiência, para a mesma data e horário. A comprovação da deficiência faz‑se, no caso de residentes em Portugal, através do Atestado Médico de Incapacidade Multiuso, com grau de incapacidade igual ou superior a 60%. Para cidadãos estrangeiros, é aceite documentação médica equivalente. O diploma obriga ainda os promotores culturais a adaptarem os sistemas de bilhética, garantindo o registo e o controlo destes bilhetes, o respeito pelas regras de proteção de dados e a disponibilidade do bilhete gratuito em todos os canais de venda, físicos e digitais, com critérios de acessibilidade e usabilidade equivalentes aos restantes bilhetes. A Inspeção‑Geral das Atividades Culturais (IGAC), em articulação com o Instituto para os Direitos das Pessoas com Deficiência ( antigo Instituto Nacional para a Reabilitação), será responsável pela fiscalização da medida e pela elaboração de um relatório anual sobre a sua aplicação, incluindo o número de bilhetes emitidos e o impacto na acessibilidade cultural. As entidades abrangidas dispõem de um ano para adaptar os seus sistemas informáticos, estando previsto um regime transitório que permite, temporariamente, a emissão manual dos bilhetes gratuitos.
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Information | Restructuring of the National Institute for Rehabilitation for the Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
In the context of the reform of the State and the modernisation of the Public Administration, Decree-Law No. º 60/2026, of 24 February, restructures the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I. P. (INR) and establishes the Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I.P. (IDiPD) , which also integrates the competences of the Mission Structure for Accessibility Promotion (EMPA). This amendment aims to strengthen the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring more effective action and better articulation with other public administration services, through an integrated approach in the areas of inclusion, accessibility and civic participation. We would also inform you that all references to the INR and the EMPA, contained in legal and regulatory acts, contracts and other normative instruments, are deemed to be made to the IDiPD. The IDiPD thus becomes the reference entity for all matters previously attributed to EMPA. The Decree-Law can be found here: https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/decreto-lei/60-2026-1058701616 We continue to make inclusion happen together!
View highlight details ‘Accessible Beach, Beach for All!’ 2026: applications by 31 March
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
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INR promotes international seminar on autonomy and independent living as National Representative in the Ibero-American Program for Disability and host country that hosts on 26 February 2026 the XIX Meeting of the Intergovernmental Council of the Program
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
View highlight details INR presente no aniversário da ASSOL e no lançamento do livro “Continuar a Caminhar para Avançar”
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.
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Project Finance Programme 2026: Provisional list of amounts to be financed
After approval by the Board of Directors of 23 January 2026 and in accordance with Article 8(4) of Regulation No 734/2025 of 16 June, the National Institute for Rehabilitation discloses the Provisional List of the amounts to be allocated to projects submitted to the Project Financing Programme by the INR, IP in the year 2026.
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