Category:
City Hall participates in Autism Awareness Walk on Ilha do Governador
Published on 19/04/2026 - 13:52 | Updated
Walk gave visibility to atypical families - Iago Campos / Rio City Hall The mayor of Rio, Eduardo Cavaliere, participated this Sunday morning (April 19th) in the 10th edition of the Walk for Autism Awareness, held at Praia da Bica, on Ilha do Governador. The event brought together families, supporters and institutions linked to the cause, highlighting the importance of acceptance, inclusion and strengthening the support network for people with autism.
With the motto "Caring for those who care is also an act of love," the walk gave visibility to atypical families and reinforced the need for collective support to ensure a better quality of life and dignity. During the event, the mayor highlighted the progress and commitment of the City Hall in expanding the support network.
– The city government has always supported this initiative, and our role is to continue moving forward. We have already significantly increased the number of mediators in schools, but we will increase it even further. We have also committed to expanding the Centers for Stimulating Development in Autism Spectrum Disorder. We have already reached eight units and will reach ten. It is a source of pride to be here on this journey – stated Cavaliere.
Until 2020, the municipality of Rio de Janeiro did not have a structured care pathway or specialized units for the care of children with suspected or diagnosed autism. Since 2021, the City Hall has been developing, in a pioneering way, a specific flow for diagnosis and treatment and, from 2023, created the Centers for Stimulating Development in Autism Spectrum Disorder, in addition to training professionals and reorganizing the network.
With this, the number of available appointments went from zero in 2020 to 4.239 in 2025. Currently, the city has eight units — two of which were inaugurated this year, in Campo Grande, in the West Zone, and in Irajá, in the North Zone — and the forecast is to reach ten specialized centers by 2028.
In Education, of the 33 children currently (2026) included in Special Education, 23.900 have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The network has 10 professionals dedicated exclusively to Special Education, including special education teachers and support staff.
The municipal schools also have the support of the Helena Antipoff Municipal Institute (IHA), a national reference in the implementation of public policies for Special Education in Rio. Leading Special Education in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the IHA develops teaching materials and resources, assessments, and continuing education programs for professionals in Inclusive Education. Currently, the IHA has its headquarters in Maracanã, in the North Zone, and a recently inaugurated branch in Campo Grande, in the West Zone.
Housewife Ana Paula Viena, 42, participated in the walk alongside her 8-year-old son, Júlio César. Attending the event for the third time, she highlighted the importance of the mobilization to increase respect and awareness about autism.
"We're enjoying the walk. It's a very important initiative to increase respect and awareness about autism. It's essential that everyone takes this seriously," said Ana Paula.
Eduardo Galvão viewpoint is inaugurated.
Before the walk, the mayor of Rio inaugurated the Eduardo Galvão Lookout, also on Praia da Bica. The space honors the actor, a resident of the region for over 30 years, who died during the Covid-19 pandemic. The lookout will become a place of memory, serving as a meeting point and a symbol of local history.
The sidewalk was repaired, the fence was painted, projectors, signs, and benches were installed, and trees were pruned to enhance the view from the lookout point. The ceremony brought together residents, authorities, and the actor's family.
"Rio is made up of great characters, of great Cariocas (Rio natives), and today we immortalize another one in the city's memory, alongside those he loved," Cavaliere emphasized.
According to the Secretary of Conservation, Diego Vaz, the revitalization returned the space to the population, transforming a previously degraded area into a space for families to gather, relax, and contemplate. And Eduardo Galvão's brother, Henrique Galvão, expressed his gratitude for the tribute, which took place on the actor's birthday.
"It's a very beautiful tribute. Eduardo loved Ilha do Governador. We all do too. Even if we leave here, our hearts will stay here," Henrique emphasized.
