The president of the Government has decided to establish a working group to prepare a legislative proposal to implement in the Azores the “principles and goals” set out in the Law on Prevention, Qualification, Rehabilitation and Participation of Disabled People as well as the “general principles of social work.”

In his order, dated May 27, Carlos César justifies this initiative with the fact that the Azores does not have, to this date, “a legal scheme that adapts the issue of rehabilitation and the integration of disabled people in society to our reality.”

The President of the Regional Government also defended that in order to promote the rehabilitation and inclusion of disabled people in society, it is necessary to “promote opportunities in the areas of education, training and work throughout life, contribute to the access to support services and products eradicate barriers and adopt measures that may contribute to the participation of disabled people.”

For Carlos César, this goal “will be effectively accomplished by promoting a concerted action between different departments of the Regional Government” and for this reason the working group integrates representatives from eight Regional Directorates.

With one representative per Regional Directorate, the working group is composed by the Regional Directorates for Organisation and Public Administration; Sport; Science, Technology and Infrastructures; Inland Transport; Labour, Vocational Training and Consumer Defence; Solidarity and Social Security; and for Health.

According to the same order, the Regional Secretariat for Labour and Social Solidarity will “coordinate the operation of the working group and submit to the President of the Government the legislative proposal drafted in accordance to the developed work” within 60 days.