The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated in Madalena, Pico Island, that the Government of the Azores wants "to ensure all citizens a common basis for access to information and knowledge," while not regarding disability as a fatality that cannot be overcome.
 
Fausto Brito e Abreu spoke during a visit to the Occupational Activity Centre for People with Disabilities of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia." On the occasion, he announced the opening of an application to support private non-profit institutions in the Region and regional schools in the purchase of equipment and software in area of information and communication technologies for people with disabilities.
 
The application opened today, under the PRO-SCIENTIA programme, provides a total investment of 150 thousand Euros, three times the amount of last year's application and now covers private non-profit institutions supporting citizens with disabilities.
 
"Information and communication technologies can improve the quality of life of citizens with disabilities, levelling out differences and facilitating their integration in society, at school or in the workplace," Brito e Abreu defended, stressing that "the Regional Government is mainly concerned to promote inclusion."
 
"We want people who are somewhat limited to find answers to these limitations in technologies and that our support may also contribute to their autonomy and empowerment," added the government official.
 
The Regional Secretary for Science and Technology also defended that "we must ensure that young people with special needs have the best possible conditions to integrate into society," highlighting the "fundamental role" of adapted equipment in the autonomy of young people with disabilities.
 
The amount of 150 thousand Euros provided by this application are intended to private non-profit institutions and public schools in the archipelago to support the acquisition of computer equipment, including laptops and desktops, tablets, adapted peripheral devices and specific software for citizens with physical disabilities, mental, visual, and auditory or with multiple disabilities.
 
Applications to the Regional Government's support run until March 24 at the electronic address http://idia.azores.gov.pt.