The delegation visited a rehabilitation program affiliated with the University of Sao Paulo medical School. The program, known as IMREA, is located in the Larpa neighborhood in a reclaimed warehouse. It's funding is a mix of federal, state, and private funding (more on this in a minute). IMREA primarily serves adults (14 and above), but there is a small program for children with Down syndrome.
This program is the gold standard of rehabilitation in Brazil; the demand for service is so great that people are limited to 2-hour long interventions that are scheduled only 1-3 times a week. Approximately 600-900 people are served on a daily basis. The program does not accommodate individuals with behavior management issues.
The bulk of services are related to physical rehab, primarily traditional PT and OT that focuses on art and office skills. Many of those who have been served since it was established in 2005 are talented artisans; unfortunately the program has had very limited success in it's graduates gaining employment.
Employment of a diverse workforce is a policy priority in Brazil. Employers with up to 200 employees are required to have 5% of that workforce be people with disabilities. Employers larger than that are required to also employ distinct percentages of people who come from different economic strata. If an employer fails to achieve these requirements, they must either pay a prescribed penalty to the government or make a "donation" to a nonprofit. Many employers that have failed to meet the employment quotas for people with disabilities have instead donated to IMREA, making it a very well equipped rehab center.
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