To create conditions for social inclusion of persons with disabilities and communities in situations of risk: this is the main focus of AVAPE’s programs.

We aim to provide the community with actions in the fields of social assistance, work, education, health, sports and leisure, preparing citizens to face the challenges of living, coexisting and producing, according to the trends of their time.

Prioritizing actions that benefit people now, but with an eye on the future, has been one of AVAPE’s greatest challenges. That is why, within the programs the organization develops, creative and transformative actions capable of bringing about change in people’s lives and those of their communities predominate. These programs also seek to prevent exclusion and to create conditions for social inclusion.

Community Programs

Training in the Community

Professional training courses formatted according to the regional characteristics and needs of the community.

AVAPE Community Action Program

With effective actions since 1997, the main directive of the AVAPE Community Action Program (PAC) is prevention, in addition to redeeming the role in society of persons with disabilities and/or at social risk in needy communities.

The program is mirrored on the principles of Community-Based Rehabilitation (RBC), a rehabilitation strategy recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The AVAPE PAC preserves the basic operating characteristics in line with the philosophy of RBC, such as the use of the community’s own material and human resources; definition of necessities and solutions and execution of actions resting with persons with disability or local leaders; and the role and performance of the AVAPE technical team as facilitators of rehabilitation, rather than providers of clinical rehabilitation or assistential services.

The program involves more than 50 communities located in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Taubaté, São José dos Campos and Tatuí, in the State São Paulo, and in Resende, Rio de Janeiro.

PAIAEC – Interdisciplinary Attendance Program in an Out-Patient Environment

The PAIAEC Program aims to take multidisciplinary attendance, in situ, to school communities and city halls of municipalities with needy communities. The focus is on prevention, encouragement and training for improving the individual’s emotional, cognitive and psychomotor development, with the aim of facilitating formal education and reducing school truancy.

- Pedagogical Workshop: attendance to students with difficulties in keeping up with formal education. This activity supports the development of schooling and citizenship.

- Lectures and training: assists teachers and parents.

- Group attendance: aims to encourage learning among public school network children with slight disabilities and learning, speech and behavioral disorders caused by sociocultural deprivation; preventive stimulation for children from 3 to 5 years of age with a history of slight delay in learning how to talk, in motor learning and in basic concepts, and with difficulties in adapting to the environment as a result of family or school environment problems.

In 2008, the PAIAEC was present in 35 municipal schools in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo (East and North Sides) and Taubaté - SP.

CRIARTE Project

With the aim of contributing to improving the quality of life of those in social risk situations, this program encourages adaptation and overcoming of the day-to-day problems of children and pre-adolescents and their respective family members residing in needy communities.

“Hora de Incluir” (Time for Inclusion) Program

Set up in 2008, the program aims to encourage reflection on matters related to the fields of education, transport, health, leisure etc., so as to break the stigmas concerning matters involving disabilities and their respective diversities.

Cultural Programs

Art Program

Created in 2001, the AVAPE Art Program offers weekly workshops in dancing, music and art dedicated to the needy and/or those with disabilities. The aim is to encourage cultural activities, free of age barriers or commitment. The program functions as a supplementary activity for strengthening traditional treatment, with the aim of developing the affective, physical, cognitive and esthetic and personal interrelationship capacities, in addition to the feeling of confidence. As a multidisciplinary activity, the project is extensive to all AVAPE clients, providing support for the activities both in the clinical area and in professional rehabilitation and training. All sections are involved in this action and participate in the activities in an interactive manner.

AVAPE Dance Troup

The “AVAPE Dance Troup” program attends to around 1.000 young people at the units in Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Tatuí, São José dos Campos and Taubaté (SP), and Resende (RJ). The themes for the plays and choreographies, almost always focusing on the question of social inclusion, are jointly chosen by dance, music and artistic education teachers, in addition to the involvement of psychologists and therapists. Since the start of the project, which is sponsored by partner companies and relies on incentives under the Rouanet Law, more than 60 presentations have been given. Over 9000 people have seen the shows.

AVAPE Sports Program

Intended for persons with disability and those in socially vulnerable situations, the program covers rehabilitation, professional training the field of sports, leisure and quality of life, in addition to investing in high-performance athletes for domestic and international competitions.

AVAPE on the Podium

The result of a partnership with the CESEC – the Center for the Social and Sporting Emancipation of the Blind, signed in 2007, AVAPE on the Podium! brings together the experience of the two organizations in their respective fields of operation. The CESEC comes up with the sports projects, while AVAPE supports para-olympic athletes through professional training programs that prepare them for joining the job market when their sporting career is over.

The program is for those over the age of 14 and who have a disability, or who reside in areas of social risk and vulnerability, provided they are in a position to practice a sport.