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The pilot project MAVI (Model Support for Independent Living) has been the subject of an interim evaluation during the last year.

In order to disseminate these data to the community, the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR) held the "Public Conference on Dissemination of the Interim Evaluation of the Support Model for Independent Living in Portugal", last July 13, Wednesday, at 2.30 p.m., in the auditorium of CITEFORMA, on Av. Marquês De Tomar No. 91, 1069-181 Lisbon.

The opening of the event was attended by the Secretary of State for Inclusion, Ana Sofia Antunes. The results of the mid-term evaluation were then presented by Prof. Dr. Luís Capucha, coordinator of the study at CIES - ISCTE.

In order to hear aloud the evaluation of the direct participants in this project, a round table was held, moderated by Fernanda Sousa, Coordinator of the MAVI Technical Team, at the INR, I.P., with the presence of three people receiving personal assistance, a personal assistant and an element representing the technical teams.

This was followed by a space for debate, where questions were asked by those present and which focused essentially on the operation and future of this project.

The closing session of this event was in charge of Domingos Lopes, President of the Steering Committee of POISE and Humberto Santos, President of the Board of Directors of INR, I.P.

O executive summary in charge of the evaluation team, concludes that: ‘Based on the results obtained, both quantitatively and qualitatively, we can thus unequivocally state that very solid evidence was obtained that not only proves all the assumptions set out in the MAVI Program Theory, but also elucidates that its operationalisation went even further than expected in thesis, by also contributing to the rest and autonomy of the families of these people. More specifically, the indicators obtained show that the use of personal assistance, framed by CAVI, promoted a clear improvement in self-determination and inclusion of the overwhelming majority of recipients, significantly reducing the risk of institutionalization, of their family dependence, thus radically transforming life paths, expectations, dreams and personal behaviors in the face of dependence and autonomy.

Through the results of the study in question, it was therefore possible to conclude that MAVI contributes in a very positive way to respond to the main social problem identified in disability and that it relates, on the one hand, to the deficits of self-determination and empowerment of these people and, on the other hand, to the normality with which it assists their exclusion from the most diverse social contexts and civic participation. Moreover, as mentioned above, the break with the obligation to depend on the family for care/support has resulted in a win-win added value. We are talking about a ‘win-win’ added value, because MAVI has enabled not only the release and empowerment of the person with disabilities in relation to the family, but also the release of the family from the imperative need to provide the same care, enhancing their rest and leisure opportunities.”