To mark the European Day of Independent Living on May 5, gatherings were organized in eight cities; in Lisbon, participants congregated on Avenida da Liberdade, near the Tivoli Theatre, beginning around 3:00 PM.
Diogo Martins, a member of the Organizing Committee for the March for Independent Living (COMVI), explained that the aim of this action was “to draw attention to a range of unresolved issues related to the rights of people with disabilities, specifically in Portugal.”
“There is a second goal, which is to attract even more people with disabilities to this cause, essentially raising awareness,” he noted, highlighting the need for “different ways to reach those in power, the decision-makers.”
Besides this broader purpose, specific demands were raised for each region. In the metropolitan area of Lisbon, these included “improving the transportation network in terms of accessibility,” which faces challenges like “lack of maintenance of various equipment, insufficient professional training, and frequent breakdowns in some transport services.”
Individuals with disabilities also experience a significant shortage of accessible housing, which is particularly impactful given that adapted and accessible homes are among the most expensive on the market.
Paula Sequeira, holding a sign that read “housing,” also pointed out that inaccessible housing is one of the major challenges faced by people with disabilities, along with other difficulties in accessing employment.
“It’s still uncommon for us to be employed based on our capabilities. Many of us have university degrees, yet we are not given job opportunities because our abilities are overlooked,” she lamented.
Despite the rain, flags from the Portuguese Association for the Disabled (APD) were visible, one of the numerous organizations participating in this march.
“Sixteen organizations focused on disabilities joined this march, supported by around forty human rights groups and organizations,” highlighted Jorge Falcato, a former member of parliament for the Left Bloc and a member of COMVI.
He emphasized that this is “not just a struggle for people with disabilities; it is a human rights struggle that many people with disabilities do not have access to.”
This march emphasized independent living, recalling a pilot project that functioned for five years but ended about a year ago. “What should have been a policy measure for everyone to have personal assistance has stalled; no new slots have opened, leaving thousands waiting for personal assistance,” participants recalled.
About a thousand people were included in this project, and “at least 3,000 people are waiting, and this government has done nothing to turn this into an effective measure,” they expressed.
“For independent living to be possible, there must be the right to housing, access to transport, inclusive education, and work, but a crucial tool is personal assistance,” they argued.
The demonstration also attracted individuals without disabilities, such as Ana Santos, who became a personal assistant three and a half years ago, leaving her role as an operational assistant in schools “out of a love for helping others.”
“We have a career but don’t have a career,” she noted, explaining her participation in more protests and marches, appealing to the next government to address this issue.
Ana Santos now cares for a couple, both of whom have disabilities, emphasizing that “everyone has their limitations, and there are daily challenges to overcome.”
Gisela Valente, carrying an APD flag, highlighted that “there are various types of disabilities, from cognitive to physical to sensory, and the general population is beginning to awaken but governmental policies need to focus on inclusion.”
“If we look at the streets of Lisbon, many people in wheelchairs cannot navigate them independently, which is neither fair nor dignified; people have this right because they are workers,” she declared, adding: “We’re not helpless, nor do we want to be.”
The challenges faced in public transport systems were also highlighted, with people “sometimes waiting for buses because the ramp is stuck, or encountering breakdowns in metro or train elevators due to misuse or other issues, preventing access.”
Gisela Valente observed increased interest in the issue, partly because “some people are born with disabilities, but others acquire them over their lifetime,” demanding a “just country and a fair, independent life.”
“We may be at the beginning, but we are not finished,” she reiterated, recalling a saying from her grandmother.
On a day filled with messages for the new government following the May 18 elections, political figures like António Filipe of the PCP, Mariana Mortágua, coordinator of BE, and Rui Tavares, leader of Livre, attended the demonstration.
After gathering on Avenida da República, the group proceeded to Rossio, where the manifesto, now available online with support from about thirty organizations and 150 individuals, was read.
Launched in Portugal in 2018, the March for Independent Living allows people with disabilities to make their reality, bodies, and struggle visible.
