The importance of expanding access for people with disabilities to sport was the central theme of the Santos Dumont Institute's (ISD) participation in the RN Inclusion, Accessibility and Rehabilitation Hall, this Thursday (21). Parathletes and professionals linked to parasports in Rio Grande do Norte participated in lectures, conversation circles and demonstrated Paralympic sports, such as bocce and parataekwondo, to the public.
Representative of the Brazilian parataekwondo team, Cícero Nascimento from Rio Grande do Norte was one of the para-athletes invited by ISD to participate in the event. He was a bronze medalist at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, held in November last year in the capital of Chile, and presented the sport to visitors to the hall. “Spaces like this are important to give more visibility to Paralympic sports. We show that people with disabilities can win and have new opportunities through sport”, he highlighted.
Cícero demonstrated how the sport is practiced with fellow parataekwondo athlete Ricardo Wagner, current Brazilian champion of the sport in his category. “We want more people with disabilities to be interested in and able to practice parataekwondo”, emphasized Ricardo.
Other para-athletes, such as table tennis player Ecildo Lopes and judoka from the Brazilian National Team and gold medalist at the Parapan de Santiago (category up to 48 kilos class J1), Rosicleide Andrade, visited the ISD stand this Thursday. Both shared experiences and highlighted the role of parasports in improving quality of life and social integration. The medals and awards they won were on display at the Institute's stand.
For the general director of the Santos Dumont Institute, Reginaldo Freitas Júnior, the presence at the Inclusion Hall reinforces the role of integrating ISD into society. This is because the Institute is accredited by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and offers access to parasports through the Paralympic Reference Center, which operates in Macaíba, for children and adults with disabilities from across the state.
“This action is a strategy that we highly value. It implements one of the things we believe in at ISD: being close to the population, interacting with the community, opening these spaces for visibility and, above all, for listening and connecting with people. It is this society that welcomes us and it is for this society that we work”, stated Reginaldo.
The coordinator of the Specialized Rehabilitation Center (CER ISD), Camila Simão, highlighted the contribution of the parasports line of care in the evolution of the treatment of patients with disabilities served by the ISD. The speech took place during a lecture held as part of the event's official program. “Parasports is a very powerful tool for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities, promoting improved quality of life, health and well-being. Furthermore, it can be an outcome for the patient’s qualified discharge”, he analyzes.
Architecture student Jéssika Azevedo, 21, discovered Paralympic bocce 9 years ago. Sport has played a central role in her life, even helping with family integration. Jéssika is accompanied by her father at competitions. He is the one who acts as a runner, helping to manage the chute used to give momentum and direction to the ball used in the sport. “People with disabilities often become invisible, there is also the issue of ableism, and then when you go to sport and have the opportunity to achieve something, you break these prejudices”, he considers.
The Inclusion Hall runs until this Saturday (23rd) and takes place from 9am to 9pm in the entrance hall of the Home Center Ferreira Costa, located in the neighborhood of Capim Macio, in the South Zone of Natal. Entrance and parking to the event are free.
Paralympic Reference Center
The ISD/Macaíba Paralympic Reference Center is accredited by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB) and operates in ISD units in Macaíba. Offers free assessment and training for children aged 7 and over and adults with disabilities in bocce and athletics. Scheduling for screening can be done by calling (84) 4042-0033; (84) 4042-0044, or by text message on WhatsApp: (84) 9-9155-3027, from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm.
About ISD
The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) is a Social Organization linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC) and includes the Edmond and Lily Safra International Neuroscience Institute and the Anita Garibaldi Center for Health Education and Research, both in Macaíba. ISD's mission is to promote education for life, forming citizens through integrated teaching, research and extension actions, in addition to contributing to a fairer and more humane transformation of Brazilian social reality.
