The importance of promoting physical activity in older people with ID

During January, Aproximar (APX) carried out an awareness-raising campaign on the importance of physical activity for people with ID and especially for older people. This action allowed us to reach many interested people and professionals who wanted to know more about this subject. 
The webinar was held via Zoom, but was also transmitted on Facebook reaching a total of 52 participants. 

Speakers involved:

• Professor Leonor Moniz Pereira | Professor and Researcher at the Faculty of Human Motricity 
  
• Professor Jorge Vilela de Carvalho | Sports Coordinator of the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sport of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CMJD-CPLP) 
  
• Dr Odete Fiúza | Senior Technician at the Research, Training and Development Unit of the National Institute for Rehabilitation
  
• Dr Ana Rita Peralta from Fenacerci (National Federation of Social Solidarity Cooperatives)
  
• Joana Portugal, Vice President of Aproximar and Coordinator of the Sector for Active Ageing and Dependent Care
  
• Jéssica Carvalho, Consultant at Aproximar in the Sector for Active Ageing and Dependent Care
  

The event made it possible not only to publicise the ActivAbility initiative, but also to bring together three leading experts in the field of promoting physical activity and sport for people with disabilities in Portugal.
The contribution of these experts was very important for the event, as they not only summarised the ActivAbility transnational report and the importance of its dissemination, but also the need to create public policies in Portugal to promote physical activities for older people with disabilities.

​There was also a round table where various topics were discussed, such as the need for specialised training in the area for professionals working with people with disabilities, in order to promote their active ageing, the need for greater inclusion of this group in the community and raising awareness among professionals of the need to adapt physical activities in favour of people with disabilities.