News Details

The National Accessibility Forum brought together in Lisbon dozens of experts and representatives of various entities for a broad reflection on the Portuguese reality in the area of accessibility. The event, which marked National Accessibility Day on 20 October, sought to assess different levels of responsibilities, analyse the path taken and discuss persisting needs as well as ongoing responses and future challenges.

The initiative resulted from a partnership between the National Institute for Rehabilitation (INR, I.P.), the Mission Structure for the Promotion of Accessibility (EMPA) and the Salvador Association, with the institutional support of IAPMEI, Casa Pia de Lisboa, the Institute of Social Security and the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security.

At the opening session, the Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion, Clara Marques Mendes, set the tone of the debate by recognizing that "there is much to be done, starting with raising awareness among all political actors". The minister committed to "redesign public policies in a holistic way, for and with people with disabilities", underlining the need for an inclusive approach in the construction of public policies.

The current reality presents significant challenges: In a country where 70% of Municipalities still do not have an Accessibility Plan, the need for structural change has become evident. During the two days of work, a number of key challenges were identified for building truly inclusive territories.

Among the priorities established, we highlight the training of professionals in all areas, both in the academic and professional path, especially engineers and architects responsible for the design of public and private spaces. The need for effective communication between all actors in urban spaces was also underlined, with a particular emphasis on creating environments that favour people over cars.

The forum also addressed the specific challenges of the built heritage and the urgency of simplifying the regulatory complexity of the construction sector. The implementation of Law 163/2006 was the subject of particular attention, especially with regard to the integration of accessibility legislation in engineering and architecture projects, and the need to strengthen mechanical means to overcome barriers to accessibility.

One of the most relevant conclusions was the need to ensure that the accessible territory is continuous, avoiding the creation of "accessibility islands". The participants defended the importance of an urban design that effectively promotes the right to the city, including the allocation of annual budgets so that entities, namely schools, can implement physical, material and relational accessibility strategies.

Participants contributed significant suggestions for the future of accessibility in Portugal, highlighting the need to expand the debate beyond specialist circles and truly reach out to the community. Emphasis was placed on the importance of giving a voice to neurodivergent people and their families, integrating their direct testimonies on everyday needs and challenges. The proposals covered several sectors: from education, with a focus on early intervention, to higher education, mobility and transport to employment, to digital accessibility in public services. Universal Design emerged as a fundamental concept, proposing a paradigm shift where accessibility is seen not as an exclusive issue of disability, but as a benefit transversal to the whole society. The effective enforcement of standards, the approval of support products and the crucial role of local authorities as local actors have completed the table of suggestions, underlining that the path to truly inclusive territories requires a comprehensive, flexible and constantly monitored action plan.

The President of the INR, Rodrigo Ramos, in the conclusions of the event, offered a perspective that was both optimistic and challenging: We have taken steps, perhaps small, but steps forward in the area of accessibility. However, he said that the debate "knows little", due to the need to "integrate more areas of responsibility and discuss the development of certain public policy measures". Ramos also advocated the standardisation of accessibility at European Union level, greater awareness of public and private entities, and enhanced monitoring of compliance with standards, proposing the concept of a "moral fine" to make each citizen an agent of awareness of autonomy.

The event featured an exhibition area where companies such as IACESS, Tsymmetry, MultiOrthos, Ergometrics and Rehapoint presented equipment and support products, demonstrating practical solutions to accessibility challenges.

The subsequent evaluation of the forum by the participants revealed a high level of satisfaction, with an average rating of 4.48 out of 5 points for the interest of the program and 4.17 for its professional usefulness. The most valued sessions were the round tables on "Perspective of those on the ground" (4.28) and "Culture and Accessible Tourism" (4.18), demonstrating the importance of practical experience in the discussion of these themes. Particularly relevant was the interest shown by the presentation of the Accessible EU Platform (4.11) and the discussion on the importance of standardization of standards (4.16), highlighting the recognition of the need for harmonisation and standardization of accessibility practices in Portugal.

Watch or review the event:

Day 21 HERE

Day 22 HERE

See some photographic records of the event at

1, 2, 3, 4