Disabled travellers

As in most Latin American countries, facilities are generally very poor, with notable exceptions such as Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro. Problems are worst for wheelchair users, who will find that ramps are rare, toilets and bathrooms with facilities are few and far between, except for some of the more modern hotels and the larger airports. Public transport is not well geared up for wheelchairs: pavements are often in a poor state of repair or crowded with street vendors requiring passers-by to brave the traffic. Rio and São Paulo metros have lifts and disabled chair lifts at some stations (but not all are operational. Disabled Brazilians obviously have to cope with these problems and mainly rely on the help of others to get on and off public transport. Those who are not wheelchair users will find life easier and that Brazilians are usually helpful. 

Brazilian organizations include: Sociedade Amigos do Deficiente Físico, www.aibr.com.br/sadef, based in Rio and with associate memberships throughout Brazil; and Centro da Vida Independente, Rio, www.cvi-rio.org.br. The publisher O Nome da Rosa, R Simão Álvares, 484 Pinheiros, T011-3817 5000, www.nome darosa.com.br, publishes a disabled guide to São Paulo entitled O Guia São Paulo Adaptada.