Rio beach project gets people with disabilities into the waves

 A beach accessibility project in Rio de Janeiro brought people with disabilities and reduced mobility into the waters of Copacabana on Saturday (March 7), using specialized amphibious wheelchairs and volunteer support to provide inclusive ocean access.

The "Praia Para Todos" (Beach For All) initiative, started by Instituto Novo Ser in 2008, offers adapted equipment including aquatic chairs with special wheels designed for sand and water, along with infrastructure such as beach ramps, accessible pathways, and trained volunteers who assist participants to dip and swim in the sea.

Participants, including a paraplegic woman and a lawyer who had childhood polio, swam and ducked in the water with the help of flotation devices and volunteer escorts.

Renowned Brazilian dancer and choreographer Carlinhos de Jesus, who recently began using a wheelchair due to bilateral trochanteric bursitis and gluteal tendinitis, also participated in the program.

According to the project's website, Praia Para Todos currently operates at five Rio beaches including Copacabana, Barra da Tijuca, and Ipanema, serving approximately 50 people with disabilities per day at each location and having provided around 3,500 direct services since its inception.

Production: Sergio Queiroz, Hugo Monnet/Reuters