Advocates call for accessibility improvements in Brazil

World Today

advocates-call-for-accessibility-improvements-in-brazil

While the Rio Paralympics are being hailed as the second most attended games in history, the host city remains an obstacle course for disabled residents.

CCTV America’s Lucrecia Franco reports. Follow Lucrecia C. Franco on Twitter @LucreciaFranco

For Viviane Macedo, a wheelchair dancer and an advocate for the disabled, getting around Rio is a daily challenge. She still needs help to cross streets where ramps are nonexistent or too steep.

Viviane can now move in downtown Rio in a high-tech tram that began operating just before the games. It’s the city’s most accessible and comfortable means of public transport, along with the subways.

Teresa Amaral is an advocate for the disabled. She said work on Rio 2016 has made the city around 10 percent accessible, but not much more.

It’s better than before, but not enough, said Viviane. But she is thrilled to be chosen to dance at the closing ceremony on September 18th.