People with disabilities protest for improvements in Efficient Transport in Teresina

People with disabilities protested in front of Teresina City Hall this Monday (21), National Day of Struggle for People with Disabilities. Protesters demanded improvements in Efficient Transport, a service aimed at transporting people with disabilities who are unable to use conventional public transport.

In a statement, the Municipal Transport and Traffic Superintendency (Strans) informed TV Clube that Teresina's public transport system is undergoing a process of reformulation. According to the agency, Efficient Transport is included in the changes, and it is expected that six new vans will be acquired to reinforce the service.

In an interview with TV Clube, Amparo Sousa, representative of the State Council for the Defense of the Rights of People with Disabilities, reported that around 400 people are registered with the service. However, the company responsible has nine vehicles, and only five circulate daily.

"We cannot have the right to all the policies that we have achieved over the years, such as work, health, education and leisure, if we do not have the right to come and go. Every day, people with disabilities are having their right to come and go violated," he said.

Among the complaints presented during the protest were the difficulty in scheduling transportation and vehicle maintenance problems. One of the protesters, a wheelchair user, reported that passengers face difficulties in getting assistance.

"Nobody is able to make an appointment. Transport is now full of rules. Today, wheelchair users, if they can make an appointment, have to go to that location. There is no maintenance on the cars. The cars are just broken", he commented to TV Clube.

People with disabilities protest for improvements in Efficient Transport in Teresina — Photo: TV Clube

*Yngridy Vieira, intern under the supervision of Ilanna Serena.

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