Dating app for people with disabilities makes a splash at Reatech
Since the creation of dating and relationship apps, many people around the world have found their so-called “better half” just by using a cell phone and the internet. Apps like Tinder and Happn became popular, and later similar ones emerged for niches—such as those aimed at the LGBTQI+ community or even religious groups, for example.
A specific app for people with disabilities was slow to arrive, but it was also launched. In 2018, while using one of the famous dating programs, young Ricardo Alonso Jorge's, who is a person with a disability, realized that he ran into refusal when people discovered his condition. “I would log on and get rejected. So I thought about creating a dating app for people with disabilities. That's how Devotee came about,” he said.
At Reatech 2023, the public is having the opportunity to discover Devotee. It works as a social networking site for relationships to help people with disabilities with dating. It is possible to view user profiles, send messages, meet them, and, ultimately, build a relationship.
“When the pandemic started, along with social distancing, Devotee blew up,” reported Jorge's. “I myself met someone through it—she's my girlfriend. We have very positive feedback from wheelchair users and amputees,” for example.
Currently, the app—which is free in Brazil—has more than 18,000 registered users and over 10,000 downloads, according to the Google Play Store. Devotee can also be used in the United States, where users must pay a fee to use it. When registering, the person needs to fill in the ICD (International Classification of Diseases), where they indicate their comorbidity.
Reatech Shop is one of the new features at the accessibility fair taking place until Saturday in São Paulo
A 18th Reatech – International Fair of Inclusion, Accessibility and Rehabilitation presented a new feature in the 2023 edition. For the first time, visitors have access to two official physical stores of the event. There are two kiosks positioned at strategic points, one is located at the entrance of the fair and another near the hippotherapy area.
People can also purchase Reatech Shop products through site. At the fair, there are t-shirt options (in two styles, in black and white, and in sizes from S to XL), mugs, cups, pins, and anti-stress devices, all of these products featuring references to inclusion.
“People are loving the new feature, they are enchanted by our products because it is a keepsake of this moment, and demand has been high, especially for gifts as a souvenir of the trade fair,” commented Monique Lemes, commercial administrative assistant at Fiera Milano Brasil, promoter and organizer of Reatech 2023.
Over the two days of the fair, approximately 100 products were sold across the two brick-and-mortar stores and the online store. Monique also said that Reatech Shop launched a promotion, lowering the price of the black T-shirt featuring the fair’s logo—a heart that ‘embraces.’ “It’s our best-selling product, and to please our customers, we offered a small discount—the price dropped from R$ 55 to R$ 50,” she explained.
Prices of products at the market
T-shirt – R$ 50 (black)
T-shirt – 55 (white color)
Mug – R$35
Button – R$15
Cup – R$10
Stress Relief – R$8.50
Paralympic sport awakens sensations and wins the hearts of visitors at Reatech 2023
Have you ever imagined playing basketball in a wheelchair, playing boccia sitting on the floor, and playing soccer without seeing absolutely anything? Visitors to Reatech can experience these sensations and, yes, have a lot of fun. The Brazilian Paralympic Committee's booth is certainly one of the most popular at the event, the Paralympic Arena.
Completely free of charge, people are participating in these three sports every day of the event, which runs until Saturday at the São Paulo Expo. On-site, instructors explain the rules and dynamics of each sport, and then it is literally time to get your hands or feet dirty to play the chosen activity.
In basketball, people sit in a wheelchair appropriate for the sport and need to dribble the ball twice before moving or attempting a shot at the basket. In boccia, there are two pairs of balls with different colors and weights in which participants must throw the balls (with a difference in weight, the heavier ones are used to knock away the opponent's ball and the lighter ones to get closer to the target), and in blind football, participants are blindfolded and experience the sensation of playing football without seeing anything, listening only to the goalkeeper's directions and the sound of a bell inside the ball.
“The public is loving the Paralympic Arena, we are open to everyone with or without disabilities. They learn the sports and end up having a lot of fun, we have no age limits, I advise people to come and practice, because only then, by participating in the experience, can they understand what Paralympic sport is like. In soccer, for example, people think they will be able to play, score goals, and when it starts, without being able to see anything, they just stand there, looking for the ball where it isn't, it's a lot of fun,” commented Ketlen de Souza, one of the Arena's instructors.
In addition to the Paralympic Arena, Reatech 2023 also offers the ADD Arena as an option for sports lovers. (Association of Sports for the Disabled). High-level competitions of Paralympic athletes and demonstrations also take place at the venue. There are two official-sized courts, featuring different sports, with instructors and activities every day. On Thursday, the Arena hosted the opening ceremony of the 3rd ADD Paralympic Games, with the participation of para-athletes from different parts of São Paulo.
“We made a point of bringing the opening of the games to Reatech, with invited teams. We will have sitting volleyball, 3x3 basketball, rugby, dwarf football—which will be presented at the event for the first time—and Down syndrome football. Here we alternate between high-performance sports for Paralympic athletes and demonstration sports, but with continuous interaction with the fair's public, who can try out all the sports the athletes play on the court. Sport is so cool and inclusive that people with disabilities feel welcomed and equal,” explained Eliane Miada, general director of ADD.
Brazil is one of the major highlights in Paralympic sport.
Brazil is one of the greatest global powerhouses in Paralympic sport. In the last edition of the Paralympic Games, Brazilian athletes placed seventh in the Tokyo 2020 medal standings, reaching the mark of 22 gold medals, 20 silver, and 30 bronze. With these numbers, Brazil has already surpassed the mark of 100 gold medals in the history of the games. The next Paralympics take place in Paris in 2024.
New products for rehabilitation and health
Technology is also an ally for people who are undergoing rehabilitation, whether through physical therapy or even more invasive treatments, such as catheterization. New Cycle has developed a video game that literally gets children to “play” and do the necessary physical therapy activities. In the game, it is possible to create an avatar of the child's choice. There are two circuits where the character goes through obstacles that require the requested efforts—meaning that on a treadmill, the child walks and makes the movements necessary for their rehabilitation.
“We are launching a new technology here at the fair, which is game therapy. A child needs to be a child, and nothing is more intuitive than encouraging a child to do physical therapy exercises through a video game; they play and do physical therapy at the same time, explains Higor Pantaleão, general director of New Cycle.
Another innovation in the healthcare sector is being showcased at the Coloplast booth, which brought the “SpeediCatch” hydrophilic catheter. This product allows individuals to perform intermittent catheterization anywhere, as it is compact and features a coating that facilitates insertion and removal from the urethra, while reducing the risk of infections and urethral injury.
“Today, the most common catheter on the market is made of PVC. Because it is plastic, it is a dry material that ends up causing pain and even injuries to patients. Our device is lubricated and maintains this lubrication both upon entry and exit from the urethra. So, anyone with sensitivity ends up not feeling pain, and as a result, it reduces risks such as infections that can lead to more serious illnesses. And since the device is compact, it ends up providing more freedom and autonomy for people who use the catheter, while also offering a better quality of life, said Juliana Araos, manager of Coloplast's Ativa Program.
Employability and the role of corporate leadership in inclusion
The second day of the Reatech Congress began with a well-attended panel on the employability of people with disabilities. “Promoting inclusion through the engagement of teams and corporate leadership” was the topic chosen for debate.
The meeting, which was moderated by journalist Heloisa Rocha, was attended by Marcos da Costa, the São Paulo State Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, who emphasized the importance of employment and entrepreneurship in ensuring autonomy for people with disabilities. Heloisa invited everyone to talk about their backgrounds, as well as the programs their companies implement.
Gleice Maysa, diversity, career, and performance leader at F1rst, which belongs to Santander Group, highlighted initiatives focused on the recruitment and training of people with disabilities at the bank and its partners. “Our inclusion goals are public, and there is constant monitoring by the group's vice presidents,” she said.
Andrea Cervieri, inclusive culture manager at Volo, and Erika Hamada, director at SouthRock – which operates brands like Subway and Starbucks in Brazil –, went down a similar path and emphasized that in large and far-reaching companies, the role of leadership is essential. “It is the foundation of all initiatives. In addition to relying on the support of institutions to hire and train people with disabilities, we promote workshops with our directors so that they engage with the topic and are mindful of unconscious biases,” stated Erika.
Lucas Kil, administrative operations manager at Raízen and himself a person with a disability, detailed the company's relevance to his career evolution. “Since I arrived at Raízen ten years ago, I have always seen excellent opportunities and worked hard so that I could grow together with the company,” he said. Meanwhile, Thomaz Barros, director of welcoming at Universal Chemical, finally addressed how the company, headquartered in the small town of Sarapuí, became a regional reference by embracing the inclusion agenda.
Careers: Raízen and Santander have programs aimed at people with disabilities
Reatech, as the leading trade fair in the sector in Latin America, is a prime stage for major companies to showcase what they are doing to incorporate inclusion and diversity into their culture and business strategy. Itaú, Raízen, Mercado Livre, and Santander are some of them.
Santander, for example, highlighted its exclusive bootcamp for people with disabilities, with applications open until the 26th of this month. It also features a program called "Habilidade Não Tem Limite" (Ability Has No Limit), which offers job and career transition opportunities for people with disabilities, with or without professional or technical experience.
“We have several initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion, with public goals and constant monitoring. Specifically for people with disabilities, in addition to complying with legislation, we work hard to value each individual, understanding their particularities so they feel they belong to our culture, said Gleice Maysa, diversity, career, and performance leader at F1rst, which belongs to the Santander Group.
Raízen is launching an internship program aimed at people with disabilities – with openings throughout Brazil. “It is currently the flagship of our inclusion initiative,” said Marilia Lazzeri, the company's culture, diversity, and inclusion manager. According to her, all new interns will receive close monitoring and support, and even leaders are undergoing awareness and training sessions to help them in this process.
“It's our first time at Reatech. Since we have strong programs, it made sense for us to be here and position our brand. Especially because our projects are long-term,” commented Marília.
Multinational offers jobs for people with disabilities at Reatech 2023
Visitors to Reatech who are looking for a job in the job market can find their dream position at a multinational company. DSM Firmenich Nutrição, present at the event, is registering people with disabilities and looking for professionals for its staff.
The company works on the production of different products aimed at animal and human nutrition, as well as the fragrance and flavor sector. In the animal sector, the company produces vitamins and enzymes used in feed. In the human sector, it also produces vitamins for food and cosmetic products, and in fragrances and flavors, they are flavors used in candies and mints.
“We manufacture fragrances for products like soaps, aromas that become the flavor of candies, vitamins that are put into animal feed; in short, we have a range of different products and we need new talent in our company, which is why we are at Reatech 2023, exhibiting what we do so that people get to know us and come work with us. We are recruiting future employees,” explained Suzie Thomson, executive nutrition assistant for the animal area at DSM Firmenich.
For those interested in the positions, simply register at the company's booth using a QR Code and filling in your information.
Reatech has 270 volunteers to welcome the public during the four days of the fair
Wearing a red vest and a heart-shaped pin, it is easy to identify the volunteers at the 18th Reatech – International Fair for Inclusion, Accessibility, and Rehabilitation. There are about 270 people, including students, professionals from various fields, and retirees, who decided to make themselves available to help welcome the event's public.
“Volunteers undergo basic training on how to assist people with visual impairments and motor limitations or reduced mobility. Anyone who arrives at the volunteer desk can receive information about the fair and assistance from the arrival van all the way to departure,” says Suely Yanez, volunteer coordinator for Reatech.
Suely explains that the search for newcomers is done spontaneously through the website, but also relies on the participation of veterans who volunteer every year as a way to collaborate with the comfort and safety of visitors, in addition to improving their personal or professional practices. “Reatech contributes to the education and training of these volunteers. We have partnerships with universities and students can use their volunteering as complementary hours. In addition, many of them report how much being a volunteer helps during a job interview.”
Veteran Ariana Neves, 32, has been a volunteer since 2009, when she started volunteering through a teacher. Since then, Ariana, who is a physical education teacher, has accepted the challenge every year. “It is exciting to revisit the friendships that began at the fair and to reunite with the people we guided years ago. The connections we make here are what I value most. It's what keeps me coming back,” says the teacher.
Meanwhile, the 62-year-old retiree Armando Tafner Neto is volunteering at the fair for the second time, but he is a “professional” volunteer and participates in many events across various segments. Among the greatest lessons learned from Reatech, according to the retiree, is the exchange that allows him to improve and become a more inclusive person. “Here I am practicing Brazilian Sign Language (Libras); at others, I've practiced other languages,” he says.
Far beyond ABNT: Congress addresses accessibility challenges faced by people with disabilities in the corporate world
The corporate world has proven to be quite hostile when it comes to the inclusion of people with disabilities. In their desperation to meet mandatory quotas, companies have forgotten that it is not just about hiring a person in this condition to comply with the Law. It is necessary to promote an inclusive culture that goes beyond legal protocols.
On the second day of the Reatech Congress, visitors were able to check out the panel Essential Questions for Measuring Accessibility Maturity in Companies. Among the guests was Marco Pellegrini, a member of the board of directors of AME (Association of Exceptional Metro Workers). Quadriplegic since 1991, Marco knows the challenges encountered in the job market and highlights the three main obstacles to be overcome by companies to promote true accessibility.
“First, companies do need to open positions, but they also need to open opportunities for people with disabilities to hold leadership positions. The second point is to understand that there are other alternatives to achieve the same results, which is why it is necessary to demystify the use of assistive technologies and company culture in the protocols for how tasks are executed. And finally, to know that accessibility goes far beyond ABNT standards. Those are just the bare minimum. We need to look at the specific needs of each person with a disability to make the proper adaptations,” she explains.
Also participating in the panel were Claudia Valeriano, national training manager for Subway, Samuel Hugo Lima, appellate judge and president of TRT-15, and Thiago Teba Pereira, general director of the Adimax Institute. The conversation was moderated by Marcelo Pires, CEO of Consolidar.
Virtual reality and traditional video games become rehabilitation tools
Physical therapy practice relies on allies that, in addition to helping with rehabilitation, entertain patients. Virtual reality and traditional video games are already an option used by physical therapists to assist in the rehabilitation of, for example, elderly people with Parkinson's disease or who have suffered a stroke, and children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. A playful form of clinical practice that has generated results just as positive as conventional practices.
José Eduardo Pompeu, Associate Professor of the Physiotherapy Course at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (USP), was one of the speakers on the second day of Reamed – Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. During the lecture The Future of Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation, The professor talked about the studies he conducted using this technology and how patients have responded to this clinical practice.
“We already have many studies showing the use of commercial video games like Nintendo and Xbox for the benefit of patients. There are low- and high-cost options, but with very similar results. It is possible to buy the device and use it at home. With practice, it is possible to improve balance, gait, and even cognition itself. Many of my patients bought them to continue the intervention at home, explains the professor.
Service:
Reatech 2023 – International Fair of Technologies for Rehabilitation, Inclusion and Accessibility
October 4 to 7
Hours: from 1 PM to 8 PM on the 4th, 5th, and 6th; from 10 AM to 7 PM on the 7th
Location: São Paulo Expo – Pavilions 3 and 4
Address: Rodovia dos Imigrantes, 1.5 km – Vila Água Funda, São Paulo – SP
Free transport starting from 1 hour before until 1 hour after the street market's operating hours. Departure from Santos-Imigrantes Subway Station – R. Engenheiro Guilherme Winter, s/n.
More information in this link.
Access photo gallery here
About Fiera Milano Brasil
Fiera Milano Brasil it is Brazilian subsidiary of Fiera Milano, one of the world's largest trade fair and congress players, which each year attracts approximately 30,000 exhibitors and more than five million visitors. In Brazil, there are seven fairs representing the most diverse segments of the economy, such as security, clean and renewable energies, pipes and fittings, cables, occupational health, rehabilitation technologies, inclusion and accessibility, among others. Among the main brands in the portfolio are Exposec, Fisp, Fire Show, Congresso Ecoenergy, Reatech, Tubotech and Wire South America. More information: www.fieramilanobrasil.com.br
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