A specific personal situation, such as a disability or an incapacity, might limit the right of every citizen to independent living[1], as they might not be able to perform some types of activities themselves. This can lead to dependence on family member(s) and have a negative impact of quality of life.

In 2017, the Portuguese Government launched the Independent Life Support Model (MAVI). The project started in December 2018 and is expected to end in June 2023. It aims to fund pilot projects to support people with severe physical or mental disabilities to live their lives independently and to ensure the conditions in which they can exercise their right to make decisions about their lives.

MAVI creates the conditions for people with disabilities and incapacities to have an independent, self-determined life and provides personal assistants to people with disabilities to help them perform activities they cannot perform by themselves. People aged 16 or over, with a certified degree of disability of at least 60% (certified by a Multipurpose Disability Certificate or a Military Forces Disability Card[1]) are eligible for this personal assistance programme. People with intellectual disabilities, mental illness and autism spectrum conditions are also eligible, irrespective of their degree of disability. People with disabilities aged 16 years and over who are covered by compulsory schooling only receive personal assistance outside of school activities.

Funding for the programme is allocated to the Independent Life Support Centres (CAVI)[2]. As of February 2022, 35 centres were benefitting from that funding. These centres are an essential part of the model: the person seeking support must register with a CAVI, which has the legal nature of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) for people with disabilities. The CAVI provides the personal assistance service to beneficiaries and is responsible for hiring and training personal assistants, as well as managing the process locally.

The type, form and intensity of supports are tailored to individual needs, but are always defined by the individuals themselves, together with the CAVI. These arrangements are formalised in individualised personal assistance plans (PIAP). The types of support are diverse and can cover personal care and domestic assistance, civic participation training, education, research, work, culture, leisure and mediation activities.

A personal assistant provides support with a range of defined activities. While the supported person is the one selecting the personal assistant, the employment contract is established with the CAVI. MAVI relies on a close working relationship between personal assistants, support centres, and persons with disabilities.

A research-action-assessment project, ICAVI, was developed to monitor and assess the project’s implementation. It was run by researchers from universities, higher education institutions, CAVI technicians, and the Centre for Research in Technology and Health Services (CINTESIS).

A mid-term evaluation was carried out for the MAVI project, with a final evaluation due to take place during the second semester of 2022. This will yield data to feed back into the creation of a definitive model in 2023.

Monthly CAVI activity is reported to the INR. In addition, members of the MAVI team from the INR interviewed the various parties involved in this project: technical teams, personal assistants, beneficiaries and family members of beneficiaries, in order to evaluate their expectations.

The Independent Living Pilot Project Model seeks to guarantee the right of people with disabilities to live independently, by reversing the trend towards institutionalisation and instead providing access to resources and services in the community. Through the Decree-Law 129/2017, Article 44, it is determined that after a medium-term evaluation and final evaluation of the MAVI pilot project, this it will be submitted to evaluation and updating in order to become a definitive model to be funded by the Portuguese State Budget.