National Institute for Rehabilitation
Planning, Coordination and Implementation of National Policies for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Matosinhos hosted the Award Ceremony Sports + Accessible 2025
On November 6, the Noble Hall of the Municipality of Matosinhos received the Award Ceremony Sports + Accessible and Honourable Mentions, an initiative that distinguishes projects that promote inclusion through physical and sports activity. The 4th edition of the Prize, organised by the National Institute for Rehabilitation (INR) and the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth (IPDJ), was supported by the Municipality of Matosinhos – European City of Sport 2025 – and partners such as Decathlon Portugal and Pista Mágica. The session began with a musical moment starring Paulo Cepeda of APPACDM de Matosinhos, who played “Fado da Esperança” by Carlos Mendes. This was followed by the opening session, where Luísa Salgueiro, Mayor of Matosinhos, highlighted “being an honour for Matosinhos, as the European City of Sport 2025, to host this ceremony celebrating inclusion. Sport is everyone’s right and must be accessible to every citizen.” Ricardo Gonçalves, President of the IPDJ Board of Directors, stressed that “this award is a clear sign of our commitment to equal opportunities. We want everyone, regardless of their abilities, to find a space for participation and well-being in sport.” After the welcome, the project IDI4Sport – Inclusion and disability in and through sport was presented by Alcídio Jesus, Senior Technician of the Northern Regional Directorate of the IPDJ. This was followed by a reflection on Good Inclusion Practices, with the participation of Bárbara Pereira, responsible for the project Sexto Sentido (winner of the 2024 edition) and Odete Fiúza, from the INR Research, Training and Development Unit. Subsequently, Marisa Lopes (INR) and Ana Pacheco (IPDJ) presented the 4th edition of the Sports + Accessible Award, before the revelation of the distinguished projects. The big winner was the “Joga Simples” project by the Associação Joga Simples, which received a prize totalling €7 000, awarded by INR and IPDJ and Decathlon, plus specialised consultancy, by Pista Mágica. Tiago Maia, President of the Association, said in an emotional speech that "this award is an incentive to continue simplifying access to adapted sport in Portugal. We want no one to be left out.” Three reference projects were awarded honourable mentions: “Surf Healing – Sea Therapy” (Association Surf Healing), in the area of training; “Blue Equipments” in the area of accessibility and support products; “Abrantes Sport Inclusive” (Municipality of Abrantes), in the area of sports development. Each honorable mention was accompanied by the delivery of vouchers offered by Decathlon Portugal and Pista Mágica, with the presence of Leandro Sá, representative of Declatlhon and Sónia Fernandes, of Pista Mágica. The ceremony ended with the interventions of Sónia Esperto, President of the Board of Directors of the INR, and Nuno Matos, Councilor of Sport of the Municipality of Matosinhos, underlining the importance of cooperation between entities to make sport truly inclusive. With this initiative, we reinforce our commitment to promoting equal opportunities, inclusion and quality of life through sport.
View highlight details Portuguese Sign Language Day
The National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR, I.P.), joins another year of commemoration of the National Day of the Portuguese Sign Language, LGP, celebrated on November 15. This commemoration aims to promote the Portuguese Sign Language and reaffirm the recognition of the rights of deaf people. This date is celebrated as the date associated with the creation, in 1995 (30th anniversary), of the Commission for the Recognition and Protection of the Portuguese Sign Language (CRPLGP), composed of representative organizations of the Deaf Community, later designated as the Commission for the Recognition and Protection of the Portuguese Sign Language and Defense of the Rights of Deaf Persons (CRPLGPDDPS). The recognition of the Portuguese Sign Language in the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic took place on September 20, 1997, valuing the Portuguese Sign Language as a privileged form of interaction between deaf and hearing people. The Portuguese Federation of Associations of the Deaf (FPAS) organizes a Workshop at the Association of the Deaf of Porto, at 10am and a Meeting, at 2pm, at Avenida dos Aliados, which is joined by deaf people and other entities representing deaf people and professionals linked to LGP. The INR will be present at this initiative. This initiative is part of the agenda of the celebrations of December 3. More information at November 15 | Portuguese Sign Language Day | FPAS - Portuguese Federation of Associations of the Deaf | Facebook
View highlight details 
Meeting with families and people with disabilities
The National Institute of Rehabilitation, I.P. invites you to participate in the meeting aimed at families and people with disabilities, which will take place on November 22, 2025 (Saturday), from 09h30 to 13h00, in Lisbon, in the auditorium of this Institute. Powered by Jack Pearpoint and Lynda Kahn, forerunners of the Person-Centered Planning methodology, the meeting was designed so that families and people with disabilities can learn, share experiences and pave the way together for a more inclusive future. From free participation e dynamised in English this meeting, intended exclusively for families and persons with disabilities , is limited to 35 participants and requires a mandatory pre-registration until 18 November, which can be held HERE ! Get involved and spread the word!
View highlight details Encontro “Emprego Inclusivo e Responsabilidade Social”
A Câmara Municipal de Mafra, no âmbito do Balcão da Inclusão, organizou um Encontro sobre a temática do Emprego Inclusivo, dirigida às entidades empregadoras do Concelho, para a promoção da empregabilidade de pessoas com deficiência e incapacidade. Este Encontro decorreu no dia 5 de novembro, entre as 14h e as 18h, na Loja do Cidadão de Mafra. O Instituto Nacional para a Reabilitação, I.P. (INR) esteve presente no Encontro que juntou empresários, autarcas e representantes de instituições locais. Ao longo da tarde foi debatida a importância da inclusão das Pessoas com Deficiência, os seus direitos e os mecanismos legais existentes para a empregabilidade das mesmas. Por fim, foram apresentadas boas práticas de inclusão no mercado de trabalho sob o olhar das entidades empregadoras e dos trabalhadores. A sessão de abertura ficou a cargo de Hugo Moreira Luís (Presidente da Câmara Municipal de Mafra), de Susana Marques (Diretora do Centro de Emprego de Loures-Odivelas - IEFP) e de Ana Maria Silva (Presidente da Direção da Associação para a Educação e Reabilitação de Cidadãos Inadaptados de Mafra – APERCIM). O primeiro painel “O Direito à inclusão das Pessoas com Deficiência e Incapacidade (PCDI)”, foi da responsabilidade do INR, onde foi salientada a importância do emprego das Pessoas com Deficiência, não apenas para cumprimento de obrigações legais, mas como um ato de justiça social e de cidadania que reconhece o potencial das mesmas, valorizando as suas capacidades. A inclusão de Pessoas com Deficiência (PcD) nos quadros das empresas contribui para aumentos de produtividade e valor para os empregadores. O segundo painel, dedicada às medidas ativas de emprego e estratégias de capacitação das PcD, ficou a cargo do Centro de Emprego de Loures-Odivelas (IEFP), onde foram apresentadas todas as medidas quer de empregabilidade (estágios de inserção, Emprego Mercado Aberto e emprego protegido), formação, adaptação dos postos de trabalho e de produtos de apoio. No terceiro e último painel, da responsabilidade da APERCIM, foi o projeto “Mãos à Obra”, uma iniciativa da APERCIM, cofinanciado no âmbito do Programa de Financiamento a Projetos pelo INR, que visa promover a empregabilidade das PcD; a sensibilização das empresas, empregadores e profissionais para a vantagem da importância de empregar PcD; viabilizar o acesso das PcD ao mercado de emprego; contribuir para a valorização pessoal das PcD; promover aprendizagens pré-laborais e profissionais para as PcD; Encaminhar profissionalmente os participantes de acordo com os interesses, capacidades e vocação. Para além dos empresários que apresentaram os seus pontos de vista e da importância da inclusão das PcD nas suas empresas, foi possível ouvir, os testemunhos das próprias pessoas. A sessão de encerramento ficou a cargo do INR, onde ficou salientado que a inclusão das PcD no mercado de trabalho é um especto central da Agenda 2030 das Nações Unidas e encontra respaldo em múltiplos objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS), em especial os que visam a promoção da igualdade, inclusão social e trabalho decente. Como nota final, foi referido que o direito ao emprego é uma questão de justiça social e de Direitos Humanos e não da responsabilidade social das empresas.
View highlight details 
Let's celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities!
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is marked annually by 3 December . With the creation of a Working Group made up of members of the INR and NGOsPD representative of the various areas of disability, this year the celebrations begin earlier, with a diversified agenda of activities This includes sports initiatives, conferences, seminars, games, workshops and more. The high point will be a the Celebrative Gala , which will take place in the December 3rd, at 6 p.m., at the Lisbon Forum . Stay tuned to the news we will share and join us in the celebration of this day, promoting a more aware society. dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities . See below for the full agenda. Let's celebrate together! AGENDA (subject to last minute changes) For more information, please contact the respective organising bodies. October Day 4 Event: "Inclusive sport" NGOPD/Responsible Body: Jorge Pina/INR Association Where: Lisbon Event is over. Learn more HERE . November During the month Event: Vox Pop NGOPD/Responsible Body: INR Where: Online Day 6 - 2.30 p.m. / 4.50 p.m. Event: Award of the Sport + Accessible Award NGOPD/Responsible Body: IPDJ - Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth/INR Where: Matosinhos More info HERE . Event is over. Learn more HERE . Day 6 – 09:30/18:30 Event: NER/CMRA seminar – “The present and future of nurses specialising in rehabilitation in specialised centres” NGOPD/Responsible Body: NER/CMRA - Nurse Rehabilitation Center / Rehabilitation Medicine Center of Alcoitão Where: Alcoitão More info HERE . Event is over. Learn more HERE . Day 11 Event: Physical Activity at the Rhythm of Saint Martin/Magusto NGOPD/Responsible Body: ADFA - Association of the Disabled in the Armed Forces Where: ADFA More info HERE . Event is over. Day 15 - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Event: Workshop and Open Debate "What does the Deaf Community want?" (10h00 - 12h00); Concentration (14:00 - 17:00) NGOPD/Responsible Body: FPAS - Portuguese Federation of Associations of the Deaf Where: Associação de Deaf do Porto (morning) / Av. dos Aliados (afternoon) More info HERE . Day 19 Event: Scientific-Technical Meeting “Centrality of the Person in the Paradigm of Human Rights” NGOPD/Responsible Body: INR/IEFP - Institute for Employment and Vocational Training Where: IEFP Auditorium in Xabregas More info HERE . Day 21 - 2.30 p.m. / 5.30 p.m. Event: Conference “Let’s talk about the Right to Participation of Children with Disabilities ” NGOPD/Responsible Body: INR/NOVA Centre for Child Law & Children’s Rights/ONGPD Where: Faculty of Law of NOVA University of Lisbon More info HERE . Day 24 - 14h00/16h30 Event: Forum - “Independent Life: Personal Assistance in Active Life – Vocational Training” NGOPD/Responsible Body: INR Where: IEFP Auditorium Aveiro More info HERE . Day 26 – 18.00 Event: Delivery Poster Prize 3 December NGOPD/Responsible Body: INR / El Corte Inglés Where: El Corte Inglés Day 27 – 2.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Event: Seminar: The importance of public policies in local development NGOPD/Responsible Body: Equality and Citizenship Division of Loures City Council Where: Palace of the Marqueses of Praia and Monforte December To be confirmed Event: Exhibition "Rights in Image" NGOPD/Responsible Body: INR Where: tbc Days 2 and 3 Event: 8th edition “Inclusive Days of Viseu” NGOPD/Responsible Body: Sports, Recreational and Cultural Association – Invictus Viseu Where: Sports Pavilion of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu More info HERE . Day 3 – 18.00/20.30 Event: 1st International Day of Persons with Disabilities Gala NGOPD/Responsible Body: INR / NGOPD Where: the Lisbon Forum Day 3 Event: Quiz Questionnaire/Game : “Do you think you know what it's like to be blind? Not everything that seems is true. On 3 December, take up the challenge that can change the way you see the world.” NGOPD/Responsible Body: ACAPO - Association of the Blind and Amblyopic of Portugal/INR Where: Online Day 3 Event: Initiation to the Portuguese Sign Language in the Office of the Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion NGOPD/Responsible Body: Office of the Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion Where: Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (MTSSS) Day 3 - 2 p.m. Event: NPA promotes ‘Education for All’ project NGOPD/Responsible Body: Portuguese Association of Neuromusculars – APN Where: Polytechnic Institute of Tomar. More info HERE . Day 3 - 14.30/17.00 Event: APEXA - Association for the Support of the Exceptional Person of the Algarve NGOPD/Responsible Body: Lagoa/APEXA Inclusion Desk Where: Lagoon From 3 to 5 Event: European Disability Day and Access City Award 2026 NGOPD/Responsible Body: European Commission Where: Brussels Day 5 Event: II Forum Inclusive Life Choices under the theme "Culture and Leisure" NGOPD/Responsible Body: Lagos Inclusion Desk Where: Lagos Day 7 Event: "Inclusive sport" NGOPD/Responsible Body: Club of Portugal/INR Marathon Where: Lisbon
View highlight details “Centrality of the Person in the Human Rights Paradigm”. National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. promotes international meeting on inclusion of persons with disabilities
The National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR, I.P.) is organising, on 19 November 2025, at the Auditorium of the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP), in Xabregas, Lisbon, the Technical-Scientific Meeting on the theme ‘The Centrality of the Person in the Paradigm of Human Rights’. This initiative aims to be a space for reflection and multidisciplinary sharing on the challenges of inclusion, bringing together academics, representatives of civil society organisations, professionals in the field and people with disabilities. The meeting proposes a broad debate on policies, practices and models of intervention that place the person at the centre of decisions, promoting a more inclusive, participatory and human rights-based society. The organisation is promoted in partnership with the Observatory on Disability and Human Rights (ISCSP - University of Lisbon), the Centre for Disability Studies of ISCTE and ASSOL - Social Solidarity Association of Lafões, entities with extensive experience in the fields of disability and human rights. Among the international speakers is Jack Pearpoint, co-founder of Inclusion Press (Canada) and international reference in the field of Person-Centered Planning. With more than four decades of experience in the field of inclusion, Jack Pearpoint is a co-creator of the PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) and MAPS (McGill Action Planning System) methodologies, innovative approaches that place the disabled person at the center of decisions about their life, promoting collaboration between the person, the family, the community and the professionals who accompany them. His speech entitled “What Centrality of the Person and Person-Centered Planning means” will be the theme of the day’s shares. The meeting will also be attended by Paula Campos Pinto (ISCSP - University of Lisbon), Luís Capucha (ISCTE - University Institute of Lisbon) and Mário Pereira (ASSOL), among other experts. This event on “Centrality of the Person in the Paradigm of Human Rights” is thus a moment of convergence between scientific knowledge, professional practice and individual experience, reinforcing the collective commitment to the construction of policies and practices focused on the person with disabilities and their human rights. Participation is free, but subject to registration. The format is face-to-face. Presentations by international guests will take place in English, without simultaneous translation. Consult the program HERE and register HERE ! Access the accessible invitation HERE .
View highlight details 
Conferência “Vamos falar sobre o Direito de Participação das Crianças com Deficiência”
On 21 November, the National Institute for Rehabilitation (INR), in partnership with the NOVA School of Law, will hold the conference “Let’s talk about the Right to Participation of Children with Disabilities”. This event will take place between 14h and 17h30, in an initiative that is part of the mission of the INR to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, and aims to give a voice to children and young people, recognizing and valuing their right to participation and active listening. Children and young people will be the protagonists of this meeting, with space to freely express their ideas, feelings and visions about the world they wish to build. The conference will take place in room 7 of the NOVA School of Law and will be part of the celebrations on 3 December – International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Get to know the agenda HERE .
View highlight details NPA promotes ‘Education for All’ project
The Portuguese Association of Neuromusculars – APN will promote an awareness-raising and sharing action on 3 December at 2 p.m. at the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar. Targeting teaching and non-teaching staff, technicians and students, this initiative is part of the ‘Education for All’ project with a focus on ‘Human Rights and Inclusive Education’. The project aims to create and implement an awareness program aimed at the educational community, on human rights and inclusive education. This action takes place as part of the celebrations of 3 December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. For more information contact info@apn.pt or 226 106 202.
View highlight details 
INR organises the Independent Life Forum: Personal Assistance in Active Life – Vocational Training”
The National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR, I.P.), under the National Strategy for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (ENIPD 2021-2025), invites participation in a set of forums, at national level, to promote discussion on the role of personal assistance in the spheres of working life, based on the platforms of the Social Network and NGOPD. The Independent Life Forum: Personal Assistance in Active Life – Vocational Training’, will take place in person at the IEFP auditorium, located at Cais da Fonte Nova, Aveiro, on 24 November, between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Consult the program below and sign up HERE , until 23 November. Opening: Luís Souto Miranda – Mayor of Aveiro Speakers: Luís Guerrinha – Director of the Centre for Employment and Vocational Training of Aveiro Rosa Couto - President of CERCIESPINHO. Vitor Marques – Director of the Aveiro School Group. José Pedro Fernandes – President of APPACDM-Aveiro. Anne Caroline Soares - Recipient of personal assistance. Maria de Fátima Henriques - Recipient of personal assistance. Moderation: Guida Oliveira – Technical Director of APC Viseu. Closure: Sónia Esperto - President of the Board of Directors of the National Institute for Rehabilitation, IP. Note: Program subject to last minute changes. Get involved and spread the word!
View highlight details Regulation on financial support for the operation of general NGOPDs published in RD and launch of applications for 2026
The Regulation on financial support for the operation of Non-Governmental Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (NGDOs) of general scope, Regulation No. 1205/2025, was published in the Portuguese Official Gazette (Diário da República) on 3 November. It defines the conditions for accessing, allocating and implementing financial support for the operation, as well as the rules and procedures governing the respective applications and implementation. According to its Article 5, applications for 2026 will run from 15 November to 31 December 2025. A call for applications will be launched on 12 November. Consult the new Regulation HERE .
View highlight details 
INR highlights Support Product Allocation System in the 2nd Seminar of the CMRA Rehabilitation Nurse Center
The National Institute for Rehabilitation participated in the 2nd Seminar of the Rehabilitation Nurse Center of the Rehabilitation Medicine Center of Alcoitão (CMRA), held on November 6 and inserted in the commemorations of the International Day of People with Disabilities (3 December). The meeting brought together professionals from all over the country to reflect on the present and future of the specialized intervention in rehabilitation nursing, recognizing the direct impact of this area on the lives of people with disabilities. The INR participated with the dynamization of a workshop dedicated to the System of Attribution of Support Products (SAPA), which it coordinates at national level. The session allowed to present the new Homologated List of Support Products, in force since 31 October, and to clarify the overall functioning of the system, including the prescription stages, the award criteria and the importance of these resources to promote autonomy, participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities. It was also clarified that the support products covered by SAPA involve different donors – in the areas of health, education, employment and vocational training and social protection – depending on the needs of the person and the context of use. Organised by CMRA, the seminar reinforced the importance of sharing technical knowledge and valuing specialised rehabilitation, as part of the national initiatives marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
View highlight details ISCTE students experience accessibility challenges
On October 29, students of the undergraduate course and the integrated master's degree in Architecture attended two practical sessions, dynamized by the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR). The initiative dedicated to the experimentation and application of accessibility, had a lot of participation and aimed to bring future architectural professionals closer to the real experience of the barriers that many people face daily, promoting a reflection on the role of inclusive design in building a more accessible society. The activity was part of the set of actions that the INR and the Salvador Association have been promoting in the context of the celebrations of the National Accessibility Day, established by Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic No. 297/2021, and which aim to raise awareness among the academic and technical community about the challenges of inclusion and mobility for all people. Under the motto ‘Accessibility and Mobility for ALL People’, the sessions challenged students and teachers to reflect on the importance of detail in the design of the space: One inch too much can turn a path into a wall, one inch too much inclination can separate freedom from exclusion, and an almost flat pavement can be a real odyssey for someone. In the parallel workshops, participants had the opportunity to experience wheelchair travel and orientation exercises with cane and sales, directly experiencing the challenges of mobility and spatial perception. In another group, the inspection of a real space was simulated, applying the rules of Decree-Law No 163/2006 and the accessibility checklists used by INR architects. The feedback was very positive from teachers and students. The professors of the Department of Architecture highlighted the pedagogical and formative value of the experience, considering it an initiative to be repeated in the future. For the participating students, it was a way to experience the accessibility problems of the building itself, which until then were not perceived as real barriers. The session ended with a moment of sharing learning and proposals for improvement, underlining the importance of integrating accessibility and universal design in academic training and promoting a truly inclusive architectural culture.
View highlight details 
Approved List of Support Products
After the end of the 30 days of the publication of Order No. 11077/2025, published in the Official Gazette No. 181/2025, Series II of 2025-09-19, the Homologated List of Support Products is in force. You can consult HERE .
View highlight details Public consultation on the National Strategy for the Social Economy – Join by 30 November
A public consultation aimed at organisations and professionals related to the Social Economy in Portugal is open until 30 November. This initiative is part of the multinational project "Supporting the development of the social economy as an engine for growth", promoted by the European Commission (SG REFORM), OECD, CASES – António Sérgio Cooperative for the Social Economy and the Directorate-General for Social Security (DGSS). The project, launched in June 2025, aims to create stronger structural conditions for the growth of the social economy in the country. Through a collaborative and evidence-based process, it aims to identify strategic priorities, define monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, establish consultation channels and develop a communication plan that values the role of the social economy in building a more inclusive and sustainable society. The public consultation seeks input from experts, institutional representatives and other stakeholders in the sector to identify concrete challenges, needs and proposals. Active participation is essential to ensure that the National Strategy for the Social Economy reflects the diverse realities and visions of its protagonists. Participate here and contribute to a stronger and more representative strategy of the Social Economy in Portugal.
View highlight details 
Concurso “Escola Alerta!” 2025/2026 com candidaturas abertas
The ‘School Alert!’ Competition 2025/2026, an initiative of the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P., is open to children in Pre-School Education and to students and students in Basic and Secondary Education, to promote projects and ideas that promote inclusion in schools and communities, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate. Applications may be submitted until 28 February 2026. The competition inviting children and young people, with the support of their teachers, to submit projects that integrate the inclusion of persons with disabilities, active citizenship and a culture of non-violence, is organised in three categories: Pre-School Education and 1st Cycle, 2nd and 3rd Cycles and Secondary Education. Projects ranked in the top three places in each category receive financial support – €2,000 for 1st place, €1,000 for 2nd place and €750 for 3rd place – as well as trophies and diplomas. The 2025/2026 edition takes place in the year in which the Single Strategy for the Rights of Children and Youth 2025-2035, approved by the Government in February, was published. The competition aims to involve schools in creating accessible and inclusive educational environments, ensuring learning and participation opportunities for all learners. Established in 2003/2004, ‘Escola Alerta!’ has already involved more than 30,000 students, 4,000 teachers and more than 1,000 schools. In the 2024/2025 edition, 2109 students and 161 teachers from 28 schools from 11 districts participated, with projects on inclusion and accessibility. See the rules and conditions for participation in https://www.inr.pt/escola-alerta For a school where every person counts. For a school where every person makes a difference.
View highlight details Quick access to:
