The Associations of Parents and Friends of the Handicapped (APAEs) are the reference entities in the treatment and reception of people with disabilities, which operate in 451 of the 497 municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul, corresponding to 91% of the territory of Rio Grande do Sul. The work of the APAES serves more than 70,000 people, reaching 300,000 people, including family members.
And this March, the Federation of APAES of Rio Grande do Sul (FEAPAES-RS) completes three decades. The entity that emerged with the aim of bringing together, assisting and expanding the then 178 units of the association in the State, today, has its own flow of attributions. With the support of FEAPAES-RS, the State currently has 206 APAES scattered throughout.
For Claudio Cruz, president of the Rio Grande do Sul federation, today’s accomplishments are a reflection of a trajectory of dedication and strength not only by the institution’s directors, but mainly by those who are at the head of each APAE and who are part of the associations, whether working, acting as a volunteer and the beneficiaries themselves and their families:
“The effort we see from the APAES communities is always surprising and commendable. Today, our recognition goes to each of these people, whom our thanks and honor would never be enough. The effort of each one goes far beyond their own benefit, but it is to help others, which gives us strength.”
And it is due to this commitment of the APAES members, too, that the federation has achieved great victories for its community, through civil and governmental support. Last year alone, the federation received, in parliamentary amendments from the Chamber of Deputies, a financial contribution of R$ 18.9 million.
These resources are shared among the APAE units by the State and used to improve the physical structure, with new buildings and rooms for educational activities and health care, hiring health professionals and other necessary areas, such as general services and administration, food and promotion of activities for those assisted.
Click Love
Despite the large contributions recently received, the APAES always need support, as the expenses, from personnel to structural works and the purchase of health equipment, are much higher than what society can imagine without knowing the work closely. . For this reason, the federation has ongoing fundraising and support campaigns, such as the Click Love.
The campaign seeks to bring the population knowledge about the work of the APAE units and raise financial resources.
In addition to this support from the civil community, FEAPAES hopes to receive other public resources, which come from requests, since the federation is not institutionalized by law and, therefore, does not receive regular resources.
To this end, FEAPAES is committed, today, to receiving funds directly from the State Government, destined directly from the cash register or, following the example of other states, through collection funds such as the ICMS. An own headquarters is also one of the urgent needs being requested from the Public Organ.
