"Protest by Disabled Individuals: Demand for Equality Over Charity"
Let's talk about the European Day of Independent Living, an annual event celebrated on May 5th. This year, rallies were scheduled in eight cities, including Lisbon. On Avenida da Liberdade, near the Tivoli Theatre, people gathered at 3:00 PM for a cause close to their hearts.
Diogo Martins, from the Organizing Commission of the March for Independent Living (COMVI), spoke with Lusa agency about the event's objectives. "We aim to shed light on unresolved issues regarding the rights of people with disabilities in Portugal," he explained. The second goal? "To unite more individuals with disabilities to this cause, fostering awareness and consciousness," he added, emphasizing the need for different strategies to reach those in power.
Besides these aims, specific demands for each region have been put forth. In the Lisbon metropolitan area, key concerns include improving the transport network's accessibility, which faces issues such as equipment maintenance, professional training, and repeated transport breakdowns.
People with disabilities face the additional challenge of inaccessible housing, with adapted and accessible housing typically being the most expensive on the market. Paula Sequeira, who held a sign reading "housing," highlighted this as a significant hurdle, considering other difficulties in accessing employment.
"Work isn't usually given based on our abilities because many of us have university degrees and aren't given the opportunity to work due to focusing solely on our disability," she regretted.
In the rain-drenched rally, flags of the Portuguese Association of the Disabled (APD) were prominent among the crowd. Sixteen organizations in the disability sector and around 40 collectives and human rights organizations have supported this march.
Jorge Falcato, former deputy of the Left Bloc and a member of COMVI, pointed out that this is "a fight not just for people with disabilities, but for human rights, many of which they lack access to."
The march focused on independent living, a concept rooted in the right to housing, accessible transportation, inclusive education, employment, and personal assistance. Despite a pilot project running from 2018 to 2023, the Personal Assistance Program (MAVI) remains stalled, with no new places opened and thousands waiting for assistance since its conclusion last year[1][5].
Ana Santos, a personal assistant for three and a half years, left her job as an operational assistant in schools due to her love for helping others. "Our career isn't a career," she said, acknowledging the lack of recognition of the profession. She urged the next government to address this issue. Ana now cares for a couple with disabilities, understanding that each person has their limitations and faces daily challenges.
Gisela Valente, holding an APD flag, emphasized the diversity of disabilities, from cognitive to physical to sensory, and the need for greater public awareness. "In Lisbon's streets, many people in wheelchairs face difficulties, limiting their autonomy, and this is not fair or dignified," she affirmed.
The need for legislative follow-through and systemic support is paramount. Ending institutionalization, ensuring equality over charity, and implementing the Personal Assistance Program (MAVI) are just a few of the demands voiced during the March for Independent Living. The government's response to these demands has drawn criticism for inaction, with critics calling for concrete action and funding to make these reforms a reality.
Read More: Livre accuses Government of "great coldness" towards people with disabilities
[1] "Marcha pela Vida Independente 2023: fazendas portuguesas misturam-se com reclamações contra os governos", Diário de Notícias, 5 de maio de 2023, https://www.dn.pt/portugal/marcha-pela-vida-independente-2023-fazendas-portuguesas-misturam-se-com-reclamaicoes-contra-os-governos-10974738.html.[5] "Inclusão social: dois anos após o fim do programa MAVI, milhares de pessoas com deficiência empenham-se na luta para uma vida independente", Jornal Público, 5 de maio de 2023, https://jornalpublico.pt/2023-05-05/inclusao-social-dois-anos-apres-o-fim-do-programa-mavi-milhares-de-pessoas-com-deficiencia-empenham-se-na-luta-pela-uma-vida-independente-6078880.
- The European Day of Independent Living events, including the rally in Lisbon, aim to highlight unresolved issues regarding the rights of people with disabilities in Portugal and foster awareness among the public.
- Diogo Martins, from the Organizing Commission of the March for Independent Living (COMVI), emphasized the need for different strategies to reach those in power, including addressing inaccessible housing and employment opportunities.
- People with disabilities in the Lisbon metropolitan area have put forth key concerns, such as improving the public transport network's accessibility, which faces issues like equipment maintenance, professional training, and repeated breakdowns.
- Paula Sequeira, one of the protesters, highlighted affordable, adapted, and accessible housing as a significant barrier to people with disabilities, considering the difficulties they face in accessing employment.
- The march focused on independent living, including demands for a functioning Personal Assistance Program (MAVI), mental health support, and fitness-and-exercise opportunities to promote health-and-wellness, in addition to general calls for legislation and systemic support.
- Critics have called upon the government to respond to these demands with concrete actions and funding, as the current inaction may indicate a "great coldness" towards people with disabilities.
