The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity revealed in Maia, São Miguel Island, that the Regional Government plans to start, shortly, the works for the implementation of new and improved social responses in the area of disability, an overall investment of about eight million Euros.
 
Andreia Cardoso spoke during a visit to the construction site of the Occupational Activity Centre (CAO) of "Santa Casa da Misercórdia do Divino Espírito Santo." She added that the Government is preparing the rehabilitation works of the Occupational Activity Centre of Seara do Trigo Institution and the construction of two infrastructures for the Cerebral Palsy and Aurora Social Associations, together with the autism association. These interventions are a joint initiative that will improve substantially the response capacity" on the island of São Miguel.
 
"In the beginning of the legislative period, the Regional Government determined the importance of increasing the response capacity of occupation centres," the Regional Secretary said, highlighting that the work she visited today falls within this measure.
 
However, Andreia Cardoso pointed out that "there are other initiatives in the Region, namely in Calheta on the island of São Jorge," where the Government will carry out "the rehabilitation of the existing centre."
 
The Secretary for Social Solidarity assured that the Regional Government's priority for this area "concerns the rehabilitation and improvement of existing responses, fulfilling the needs of society."
 
Andreia Cardoso recalled that these responses are "very important for the young people who benefit from them and for their families due to the activities they develop, namely in terms of improving the autonomy of users."
 
The new Occupational Activity Centre is an investment of the Government of the Azores of about 1.2 million Euros. It will have capacity for 40 users, doubling its current capacity, and should be in operation by the end of the first quarter of 2018. The Centre will cover part of the north coast of São Miguel Island.