The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) and the Municipal Department of Sport and Leisure of Macaíba are expected to resume Adapted Sport activities in the Olympic Village, suspended since 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. This Thursday, the 31st, the coordinator of the Specialized Rehabilitation Center (CER ISD), Camila Simão, received the holder of the municipal portfolio, Sócrates Garcia, the deputy secretary Sidney Diego, and the advisor Pablo Nóbrega. Together, they discussed strategies for returning the service, considered essential in the process of rehabilitation and socialization of children, adolescents and adults with disabilities. 

“In 2019, we carried out extremely rewarding work which brought many positive results in the rehabilitation of children and young people with physical disabilities treated at CER ISD. The adapted sporting activity that was established at that time was born from a partnership between the Macaíba Department of Sport and Leisure and the Vila Olímpica with the CER ISD. Based on the training of 30 health, sports and education professionals, in addition to physical educators and interns from the Vila Olímpica de Macaíba, we started the sports activity adapted for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in the 7th Health Region of RN, which includes Macaíba”, highlights Camila Simão.

Recently, the UK Chief Medical in the United Kingdom published a guide on physical activity for children and young people with disabilities. The study reinforces the importance of promoting physical activity for these people in order to promote equity, inclusion, possibilities of finding what is good for them or entertains them. Furthermore, the main benefits of physical activity for PwD are highlighted, such as socialization, greater concentration and confidence, sense of belonging, improved mental health and promotion of motor skills.

“In our planning, we had the idea of resuming the partnership. I see this demand positively and we realize that people with disabilities are in a much greater vulnerable situation. Macaíba City Hall and the Department of Sports and Leisure will spare no effort to make this partnership happen”, highlights Sócrates Garcia, holder of the municipal portfolio. 

Permanent Education

During the meeting, Camila Simão presented a Work Plan that includes the development of Permanent Education actions to train Physical Education professionals to work directly with people with disabilities in the Municipality. “In addition, we intend to register this activity as an Extension project at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, to promote the training of new professionals with sensitivity and look at the inclusion of PwD”, points out Camila Simão. 

The demands presented to Secretary Sócrates Garcia include, in addition to the provision of permanent education to physical educators in Vila Olímpica, it should also be extended to Education workers in the Municipality of Macaíba. They will be discussed with the other employees of the two Secretariats and a new meeting will be scheduled with the ISD to align the actions and define dates and times for carrying out the activities.