The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) hosted yesterday an award ceremony aiming to encourage local restaurants to provide accessible dining experiences for persons with disabilities, titled “International Day of Persons with Disabilities – Plan for the Recognition of Restaurants Friendly to Persons with Disabilities”.
The ceremony was held at the Macau Science Centre (MSC) in Nape.
According to IAS President Wilson Hon Wai, seniors aged 65 or above accounted for 14.6 percent of Macau’s total population last year. The elderly (65+) accounted for nearly 60 percent of the holders of the bureau’s Disability Assessment Registration Card, Hon said
According to 2024 official population data, the total population of Macau at the end of last year amounted to 688,300, of whom 100,200 were elderly people.
However, only permanent residents are entitled to apply for the Disability Assessment Registration Card.
Hon also said that with the continuous increase in the elderly population, the construction of a barrier-free environment has become increasingly important.
He pointed out that public entities have fully implemented the “Architectural Standards for Designing Universal and Barrier-free Projects in the Macao SAR,” set up by the government in 2018, in all new construction and renovation projects as well as public roadworks.
According to an IAS statement released during the ceremony, a total of 61 catering establishments, recommended by local rehabilitation organisations or through self-nomination, were honoured at yesterday’s ceremony.
According to the statement, the ceremony involved around 200 participants, including representatives from co-organising and supporting units, the certified disability-friendly catering establishments, and persons with disabilities.
In order to ensure that the event was accessible to all, according to the statement, various accessibility facilities were provided at the venue, including sign language interpretation, AI-generated live captions, audio description services, as well as barrier-free access routes.
The statement also said that the 61 catering establishments honoured this year were not only recommended or self-nominated through local rehabilitation organisations but were also voted for by individuals from four disability categories – visual, hearing and speech, physical, and intellectual.
The ongoing initiative, according to the statement, aims to encourage the catering industry to provide friendly reception and services for persons with disabilities, including courteous attitudes, thoughtful seating arrangements, assistance with ordering, and accessible facilities where available, working together to build a barrier-free travel environment.
Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) President Wilson Hon Wai addresses yesterday’s award ceremony at the Macau Science Centre (MSC) in Nape. – Photo: Armindo Neves
