The Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP) will be conducting a survey of the reality of disability and incapacity in the 17 municipalities that integrate its territory. The study, coordinated by the metropolitan executive officer with the area of Social Action, Ana Amorim, aims to better understand the dimension of this reality at the metropolitan level, identify needs and challenges, and to contribute to more adequate responses to people with disabilities, their families and caregivers.

The initiative follows the identification of a lack of information on the reality of disability on a metropolitan scale, in particular as regards the social and statistical characterization of this population and its concrete needs.

The survey will therefore focus on different dimensions of the lives of people with disability or incapacity, such as employability, access to community services and resources, leisure, and school inclusion. The information collected should allow to identify the main obstacles and to understand where intervention is particularly needed.

In addition to knowing the reality of the population, the AMP-Inclui+ also intends to make a survey of the resources, responses and best practices already existing in the municipalities of AMP. The systematization of this information will allow to share knowledge and experiences between municipalities and identify solutions that can be adapted or replicated in other contexts of the metropolitan territory.

The project, explained by António Batista and Rui Serôdio of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto during a meeting with the region’s councillors responsible for Social Action, in the AMP, includes capacity-building of the professionals and entities involved, through visits and inter-municipal and international exchanges, contact with innovative practices and awareness and social responsibility initiatives aimed at businesses and institutions.

Among the expected results is the elaboration of a Manual of Best Practices and Resources on disability and incapacity, gathering relevant technical and institutional information to support municipalities and professionals working in the area.

With an integrated approach, AMP-Inclui+ aims to improve active inclusion, autonomy and participation in the community of people with disability, as well as responses addressed to their families and carers.

AMP-Inclui+ - Intermunicipal Action Plan for the Active Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups is a project under NORTE2030-2024-6 - Intermunicipal Action Plans for the Active Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups (ITI), as a joint intervention instrument at metropolitan scale.