The government updated the list of support products for people with disabilities or incapacity in late September, the first revision in nearly a decade, according to the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security.
The ministry stated that this update was made in response to appeals from Non-Governmental Organizations for People with Disabilities (ONGDP), civil society movements, citizens, and professionals, including new support products.
On October 3, a decree was published for the creation and implementation of pilot projects for the SAD+ Health home support service.
In statements to the Lusa agency, the president of the CVI association acknowledged the importance of these two measures, noting that they had been longstanding demands.
However, she added that the association’s leaders feel “completely ignored.”
“There is a complete absence from this government in consulting stakeholders, which has led to gross errors because many support products have not been included and will continue without reimbursement, which truly facilitate the lives of people with disabilities,” criticized Diana Santos.
She explained that the update of the list of support products for people with disabilities experienced “setbacks,” citing specific cushions, particularly for the prevention of bedsores, which “were previously subsidized by the Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional (IEFP)” and have now been transferred to the Instituto da Segurança Social (ISS).
Diana Santos explained that requesting reimbursement from the IEFP was “the most agile way for those who work and study to access support products,” a process that could take three months. Now, moving to the ISS will involve “a completely different process with much more prolonged nuances.”
She pointed out that the lowering of car floors, “which is quite expensive,” or specific software for blind people, was also excluded from the list of reimbursements, lamenting that the importance of sexual assistance was not even discussed.
“These specific changes, made without consultation, have only made our lives more difficult,” she lamented.
She admitted, however, that in general, the update of the list of support products is beneficial as it included ramps, motorcycles, and home automation, but for the CVI, it fell “short,” fearing that people with disabilities might “have to wait another 10 years for it to happen again.”
Diana Santos argued that it would have been important for the Ministry of Social Security to listen to organizations because they directly work with people with disabilities and receive their complaints.
Regarding home support, Diana Santos expressed “several concerns,” despite recognizing “an improvement in service” compared to what previously existed.
“What worries us is that there isn’t an investment in personal assistance,” she pointed out, reminding that the government had committed to continuing Independent Living programs but “has not reinforced funds or created an opening line for new independent living support centers,” she emphasized.
Diana Santos stated that CVI fears this home support program will replace staff assistance programs, where a person with a disability has an assistant supporting them in various daily tasks.
The president of CVI added that the Ministry of Social Security had promised a meeting by the end of September, which did not occur.
She added that she hopes there will now be an urgent meeting “to see what can still be done.”
