Fundação AFID Diferença, Portugal

On March 14 of 1985 a group of relatives of disabled persons, together with professionals working in that field, created the National Association of Families for the Integration of the Disabled Person – AFID, whose activity has focused on supporting persons with physical, mental and social disabilities, or any type of integration problems; children, young people, senior citizens or any other underprivileged groups.

On June 23 2005, this Association created AFID Diferença Foundation, a public utility institution dedicated to rehabilitation, education, training and social and professional integration of persons with disabilities. It also promotes a wide range of activities of community support and close to home services in the areas of social assistance, infant care and senior assistance, as well as environmental care services. It is the first institution in the area of social work certified by the ISO 9001:2008 Norm and by EQUASS –Level II- Excellence, in all its services, having become the first of its kind to achieve this goal in Portugal, and currently rating within the 12 top institutions in Europe in terms of the EQUASS certification system.

Currently, this Foundation cares for over 1300 people within its existing structures, having become one of the country’s most important Social Institutions – due both to the extension, diversity and comprehensiveness of the services it provides, but above all, by the efficiency of its management and technical intervention.

AFID Diferença Foundation aims to be a “voice” of awareness  fighting against the tide of prejudice that stubbornly persists in societies even today regarding people who suffer from disability; this institution lives by the ethics of integrity, solidarity, respect, discipline, humanity, inclusion and equal opportunity for all.

Further information on AFID is available on the website www.fund-afid.org.pt.