PS Member of Parliament, Isabel Garcês, advocated in the Legislative Assembly of Madeira for the implementation of the Independent Living Support Model (MAVI) in the region. Garcês argued that people with disabilities in Madeira should not have fewer rights than other Portuguese citizens simply because they live on the island.
The model, already established in mainland Portugal and the Azores, aims to provide individualized personal assistance, fostering autonomy and inclusion. The PS proposal includes the creation of Independent Living Support Centres (CAVI) to manage support plans.
Isabel Garcês highlighted that MAVI shifts the paradigm of disability policies by placing the individual at the center of decisions about their own life. The MP referenced the successful national experience and the model's integration into the social protection system in 2023, warning about the territorial inequality its absence in Madeira perpetuates.
The initiative also recommends training for personal assistants and ensuring sustainable funding. The MP concluded with the slogan "Nothing about us without us," advocating for the active participation of beneficiaries in public policies.
