Ana Maria Sousa de Freitas appointed President of the Strategy Office for People with Disabilities

The Regional Secretariat for Inclusion, Labour and Youth has formalized, through Order no. 230/2026, the appointment of Ana Maria Sousa de Freitas to the position of President of the Strategy Office for People with Disabilities (GEPD).

The appointment, which takes effect from June 1, 2026, is made on a commission basis for a period of two years, renewable. The position is equivalent to a first-degree senior management role, reflecting the strategic importance attributed to this new body, created by Regional Government Council Resolution no. 224/2026, of April 9.

Ana Maria Sousa de Freitas has an extensive curriculum in the area of inclusion and rehabilitation, having held prominent positions at the Social Security Institute of Madeira, IP-RAM, and the Regional Secretariat for Education over the last few decades. Her experience includes coordinating the Regional Strategy for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities (ERIPD 2023/2030) and representing the Autonomous Region of Madeira on the Advisory Council of the National Mechanism for Monitoring the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This appointment aims to ensure the coordination and institutional representation of the GEPD, promoting transversal and integrated public policies for people with disabilities in the Region.