Congress will address ESG topics with a view to building future sustainable societies, networks and communities
The Reatech Congress, which takes place on November 21 and 22, is one of the main highlights of the 19th International Fair for Inclusion, Accessibility, and Rehabilitation. The event, which this year will host the 1st edition of the Brazilian Paralympic Expo, will be held from November 20 to 23 at São Paulo Expo, and aims to promote an in-depth discussion on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and policies with an anti-ableist focus.
This year, in addition to the lectures, small conversation circles featuring people with disabilities speaking from their own lived experience will be presented. “We know that Reatech is the ‘carnival’ for people with disabilities. Our goal is to make the day lighter, with people sharing their life paths and exchanging knowledge in a completely accessible and airy space,” states Sandra Monay, relationship director at Consolidar, the company responsible for curating the Congress.
Another new feature is found in the topics presented, showing what an inclusive society should be like, where everyone occupies spaces such as parks, movie theaters, and shopping malls. “People with disabilities are rarely thought of when leisure is discussed. Leaders and managers who have a disability will be on our panels. The debate will be—and always needs to be—for society as a whole,” adds Monay.
According to the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) released in 2023, Brazil has 18.6 million people with disabilities over the age of 2, which corresponds to 8.9% of the population in this age group. Even so, this large group ends up being excluded from various aspects of daily life, which will be discussed at the Congress.
“At some point in our lives, we lose some of our functions and will also need support and accessibility. These are issues that require the involvement of society as a whole, because we never know when we will need it. We have to take people out of their little boxes, highlights the director.
The panelists bring together professionals from different fields and backgrounds, blending voices to enrich the debate. Public administrators, human resources managers, teachers, students, and mothers of children with disabilities will be part of the conversation, which will address various topics related to anti-ableism. The schedule is in this link.
“The fair has evolved a lot in recent years. The structure was excellent last year, with signage and adequate space for everyone. We brought an area for autistic individuals, which was essential to alleviate potential meltdowns. We believe it will be even better this year, points out the director.
Among the confirmed speakers are Alexandra Loras, consultant, mentor, Harper’s Bazaar Sensitivity Reader, and LinkedIn Top Voice; Anahí Guedes de Mello, anthropologist and researcher; Rebecka Barbosa, president of the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Cid Torquato, lawyer and CEO of ICOM – Libras, and William Ruiz, Social Projects and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at the Nelson Wilians Institute.
“It will be an important participation to raise awareness among people about the importance of diversity and inclusion. Companies still lose a lot of business by not being inclusive. With data, I will show that it is not just a good deed, but a business opportunity,” states Loras, a participant in the Plenary session that opens the Congress on the 21st.
According to the specialist, there has been a slight improvement over the last 10 years, yet there is still homogeneity in the profile of decision-makers in organizations. “When women, Black people, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals enter these spaces, these groups perform better. Reatech is a place to connect consultants and companies. I notice that many institutions still prefer to pay the fine rather than use that money to hire consulting services and attract talent,” says Loras.
Inclusive square
In addition to curating the Congress, Consolidar will also have a booth at the event which, in practice, will be an interactive plaza to allow everyone, without any exception, to enter at any time.
“The idea of the space is to bring a sense of welcoming and the desire to be there. We want to make it a living space for the event. We will have two large panels so that people can leave their marks and express themselves,” Monay concludes.
Brazilian Paralympic Expo
The Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB), together with Reatech, will hold the 1st edition of the Brazilian Paralympic Expo. The CPB and sports confederations will showcase a range of activities and information aimed at promoting sports and generating business for the sector. Demonstrations of various adapted sports will take place, allowing visitors to try out these sports, in addition to meetings with Paralympic athletes.
CPB will also take the opportunity to highlight the fundamental role of sports development programs across the country. The 7th International Parasports Congress will also take place, aimed at students and professionals who work or wish to work with Paralympic sports. Registration can be done at this link.
Source: terra
