It was in April 1991 that the Madeira Regional Branch of the Portuguese Association of Cerebral Palsy (NRM/APPC) was founded by a group of parents and professionals aware of the lack of support for young people and adults with cerebral palsy and related conditions.
To continue its rehabilitation work, the institution created the Activity and Inclusion Skills Centre (CACI) in 1997.
In 2005, NRM/APPC ceased to be a branch and became recognized as the Madeira Cerebral Palsy Association (APCM), thus becoming an autonomous entity.
The need to support adults with cerebral palsy led to the construction of a building with a Residential Home and an Activity and Inclusion Skills Centre (CACI). This gave rise, in 2009, to the Quinta Pedagógica do Pico do Funcho. This project, as ambitious as it was necessary, greatly improved the support services available to CACI users and residents.
Those attending the institution’s services benefit from the support of a multidisciplinary team that includes: a neuropediatrician, internal medicine specialist, psychologist, social worker, nursing team, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, speech therapist, psychomotor therapist, sociocultural animator, nutritionist, education specialist, physical education teacher, arts and crafts teacher, and direct care assistants.
Currently, APCM supports 37 people of both genders in the CACI, and 49 people reside permanently in the home.
APCM is a joyful place, with an interdisciplinary team of 80 professionals fully committed to providing a family-like and caring environment for its users.
The Activity and Inclusion Skills Centres produce items for sale during festive seasons such as Easter and Christmas. Around Halloween, a spectacular Haunted House is organized. The Popular Saints Dinner and Porcalhada are annual events that engage not only the team and the users but also a group of dedicated volunteers.
