![\"Accessibility,](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/acessibilidade-isa-inclusao-capivari.webp\")
<\/p>\nThe stories of Bruno Dutra, from Niter\u00f3i (RJ), and Filipe Ferreira, from Itapema (SC), are deeply connected. Both grew up engaging in outdoor activities, which were interrupted by motorcycle accidents that left them in wheelchairs. As adults, Bruno longed to return to Cost\u00e3o do Itacoatiara, while Filipe dreamed of reaching Pico da Pedra. Thanks to inclusive projects, both were able to relive inspiring moments.<\/p>\n
Including people with disabilities in mountains, trails, and waterfalls not only promotes equal opportunities, but also contributes to physical and mental well-being. For some, accessibility represents the continuation of a lifestyle they had before the disability. For others, it\u2019s a chance for a fresh start\u2014recovering self-esteem and confidence, and fostering social integration.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter experiencing the outdoors, people with disabilities come back to life, emerging from states of isolation and depression. Many even reactivate their social media to share inspiring moments and influence others,\u201d says Alan Jacob, founder of Volunt\u00e1rios da Montanha.<\/p>\n
Patricia Mira, from the NGO Montanha em Movimento, says it\u2019s common to receive testimonials from people who hadn\u2019t left their homes in years. \u201cWhen people with disabilities leave a place where they feel incapable, they begin to believe in themselves. Inclusion is transformative. It\u2019s liberating.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to psychologist, neuropsychologist, and PhD and MSc in Science from the USP School of Medicine, Andrea Lorena da Costa Stravogiannis, promoting accessibility is essential for people to develop and enhance their social skills. \u201cA study showed that contact with nature reduces mental rumination\u2014the habit of dwelling on the same thoughts, usually negative. In addition, it improves mood, promotes a sense of belonging, and boosts resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrea also emphasizes that nature programs can help reframe a person\u2019s relationship with their body and capabilities, contributing to the reconstruction of their self-image and autonomy.<\/p>\n
Despite numerous challenges and barriers, the participation of people with disabilities in hiking and mountaineering activities has grown, driven by projects and initiatives that promote inclusion and accessibility. In Brazil, various projects aimed at people with physical, visual, and intellectual disabilities provide transformative and empowering experiences.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
That was the promise Guilherme Sim\u00f5es Cordeiro made to his wife, Juliana Tozzi, after she was diagnosed with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration\u2014a rare neurological syndrome\u2014during her pregnancy with Benjamin.<\/p>\n
With Juliana\u2019s mobility reduced, the couple\u2014passionate about trails, mountains, and travel\u2014sought alternatives to ensure their outdoor lifestyle wasn\u2019t lost. Realizing there was no equipment in Brazil that would allow Juliana to access the mountains, Guilherme developed the Julietti, an adaptive chair designed especially for his wife. Today, Julietti is a national reference for accessibility and mobilizes volunteer groups across Brazil.<\/p>\n
The story gained visibility in the media, including on the program Esporte Espetacular. \u201cWe realized there were many other people who could also benefit from the equipment. So we started thinking of ways to expand access to the chairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wishing to provide others with disabilities the same nature experiences Juliana had, the couple founded the Instituto Montanha para Todos<\/a>, encouraging the shared use of the equipment. Today, Guilherme and Juliana run a Julietti chair factory in Santa Catarina, give lectures, and produce documentaries for TV Globo.<\/p>\n \u201cIn one year, we sold 1,200 chairs to the public sector, destined for urban conservation areas such as plazas, botanical gardens, zoos, and also municipal and state parks. We proved that equipping these spaces was much cheaper than carrying out construction work. We want people with disabilities to have access to the chairs and choose the paths they want to explore\u2014not just those dictated by access ramps.\u201d<\/p>\n Currently, there are over 1,500 Julietti chairs in circulation across all Brazilian states, as well as in the United States and Portugal. The institute also has a representative in Japan. \u201cThe equipment is present in places like Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park, Serra da Capivara National Park, Tijuca National Park, and in cities like Niter\u00f3i, B\u00fazios, Petr\u00f3polis, and Teres\u00f3polis, among others. All the Chapadas are equipped: Chapada das Mesas, Chapada dos Guimar\u00e3es, Chapada dos Veadeiros, and Chapada Diamantina\u2014destinations that receive many families seeking accessible outings.\u201d<\/p>\n In Rio de Janeiro, a law passed in 2022 requires that municipal parks and trails provide access to the Julietti chair, making the state a pioneer and, so far, the only one to comply with the mandate.<\/p>\n The Julietti chair marked a turning point in access to natural environments for people with disabilities, but Guilherme highlights the crucial role of volunteerism in making mobility more widely available.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, there are several groups working toward this cause. In 2015, almost no one was talking about mountain accessibility, and I hope this work continues steadily, offering outings every week, every two weeks, or at least once a month. The goal is for people to use the chair for free in parks, without having to pay for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Volunt\u00e1rios da Montanha<\/a> is a social inclusion project founded in 2018 with more than 50 volunteers. Its mission is to give people with special needs and mobility difficulties the opportunity to hike challenging trails and reach mountain summits. Based in Joinville, the group promotes the mission of Montanha para Todos and has become one of the most active initiatives, serving as a model for others.<\/p>\n In 2018, Alan Jacob, founder of the movement, fulfilled the dream of Sara, a 13-year-old with a disability, to visit Castelos do Bugres mountain in Joinville after she saw a photo of her mother rappelling there. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have the chair yet, but we gathered a group and managed to carry her in a special backpack since she weighed about 20 kilos. We created a playful activity called ‘Sara\u2019s Castle’. In addition to reaching the summit, we gave her the chance to rappel herself.\u201d<\/p>\n A few months later, Alan discovered Montanha para Todos and learned about a nationwide fundraising campaign for a Julietti chair, organized in partnership with WMAI Brasil (Wilderness Medical Associates International), CamelBak Brasil, and Gear Tips. \u201cThe chair had no assigned destination, and we were able to bring it to Joinville. That\u2019s when we created the Volunt\u00e1rios da Montanha group.\u201d<\/p>\n Today, the project holds weekly activities at Mirante de Joinville and up to two outings per month on trails and mountains. Destinations include the Galheta trail in the Arma\u00e7\u00e3o region and other beach and mountain trails.<\/p>\n In 2023, Volunt\u00e1rios da Montanha took on the challenge of fulfilling Filipe Ferreira\u2019s 12-year dream of returning to Pico da Pedra, located in Cambori\u00fa. After researching the destination, Alan realized the mission was tough but doable\u2014if the volunteer group was willing. And everyone agreed immediately!<\/p>\n \u201cThe trail is steep, with sections of rock scrambling. We assembled a team of 40 members and brought all the vertical rescue equipment from the Mountain Rescue Group. We also had experienced professionals who ensured safety during the hike. From this challenge, we recognized the group\u2019s potential to take people to even more demanding places,\u201d says Alan.<\/p>\n In addition to working with its own volunteers, the project coordinates activities with other groups that also have the Julietti chair. In 2025, Volunt\u00e1rios da Montanha joined forces with Inclus\u00e3o & Aventura from Curitiba and a group from Balne\u00e1rio Cambori\u00fa to organize an activity with three chairs. \u201cWe covered 7 km. In some sections there were fallen trees, but we faced the challenges because the volunteers believed in the mission,\u201d says Ramiro Baggenstoss, one of the project\u2019s first volunteers who helps with coordination.<\/p>\n Alan explains that from the beginning of the movement, it was clear that the activities organized by Volunt\u00e1rios da Montanha were saving lives. \u201cWhen people with disabilities discover the chair and a group of volunteers, they feel just like us. If they reached the top of a mountain with the help of someone and the right equipment, they can do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Ramiro recalls the moving story of a 13-year-old boy who was fully dependent on care. \u201cAfter the second activity, one of the professionals who supports him told us he began showing more interest in daily tasks. Today, he can already walk with assistance and even mutter a few words.\u201d<\/p>\n Psychologist Andrea Lorena da Costa Stravogiannis states that natural environments reduce anxiety, boost intrinsic motivation, and promote prosocial behavior. \u201cOutdoor activities can complement speech therapy and psychotherapy treatments. They also promote stronger family bonds since everyone can participate.\u201d<\/p>\n But the benefits of projects like Volunt\u00e1rios da Montanha are not limited to people with disabilities. \u201cI noticed that many volunteers who started joining the group were also facing personal challenges. Some were recovering from serious illnesses like cancer and found in helping others a source of hope and renewal,\u201d Alan shares.<\/p>\n Robson Lopes Roque is a mountaineer who always dreamed of helping others enjoy the outdoors. After learning about the Montanha para Todos movement, he decided to take a new path: the Inclus\u00e3o & Aventura<\/a> project, founded in 2020 in Curitiba. Since then, the initiative has provided experiences for over 40 people, including hikes with the Julietti chair, special backpacks, and other outdoor adventures.<\/p>\n Recently, Inclus\u00e3o & Aventura organized a waterfall hike in Vale dos Canivetes with two participants with disabilities: Arthur and Murilo, a 6-year-old boy who uses a wheelchair and is also autistic. \u201cWe always ask what they\u2019d like to do. This time, they surprised us by saying they wanted to see a train. So, we came up with the idea of combining the train tracks with the waterfall trail,\u201d says Robson.<\/p>\n He gets emotional recalling Murilo\u2019s experience. \u201cHis expression changed completely during the hike. He started out serious, but by the end he was smiling, communicating, and talking about the train and the water. I imagine the long-term impact of that moment. These kids go through constant therapy, medical appointments, and school routines. But when do they get time to just play? When do they experience the things typical of childhood? They\u2019ll carry this memory forever.\u201d<\/p>\n That was the second time Murilo, accompanied by his father Marcelo Gonzaga and his mother, participated in activities promoted by Inclus\u00e3o & Aventura. The family, originally from Pernambuco, moved to Curitiba seeking treatment for Murilo\u2019s diagnoses of myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus. Although Murilo can move his legs, he has difficulty standing on his own.<\/p>\n \u201cHis desire to be in nature, to hike, to have contact with water and earth has always been strong. When we found out about Inclus\u00e3o & Aventura, we completed a 12 km hike with the Julietti chair in Mandirituba, Paran\u00e1. During this last experience in Vale dos Canivetes, he rode on my back in a backpack,\u201d Marcelo recounts.<\/p>\n Marcelo is amazed by Murilo\u2019s progress on each hike. \u201cKnowing that he can swim, take a waterfall bath, and be on the mountain without fear really helps his development. At Vale dos Canivetes, he stood in the water with his mom. The plan is to keep exploring more trails.\u201d<\/p>\n Marcelo is also part of the 25-member volunteer group of Inclus\u00e3o & Aventura. \u201cThese are unique experiences I\u2019ll carry with me for life. They are opportunities for Murilo and other children to see that just like everyone else, they can do it too.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s the spirit with which Robson leads Inclus\u00e3o & Aventura. \u201cWe\u2019re a group of friends, a family. We all want to do something together, regardless of who can walk or not. We\u2019re happy, and so are they. With that, we make the world a little better.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to trails around Curitiba, Inclus\u00e3o & Aventura has tackled even more challenging routes for people with disabilities, such as the trails of Morro Camapu\u00e3 and Morro do Get\u00falio. \u201cCamapu\u00e3 is considered moderately difficult, with many roots, rocks, and a ramp that would be inaccessible without the group. The trail to Morro do Get\u00falio\u2014the first peak on the route to Pico Paran\u00e1 in Pico Paran\u00e1 State Park\u2014is a hard climb, but we went with a large team. We formed a line of volunteers and passed the chair hand to hand. It was an emotional experience because we overcame a major challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n The NGO Montanha em Movimento<\/a>, created by biologist and mountaineer Thiago Montenegro, was responsible for fulfilling Bruno Dutra\u2019s wish to return to Cost\u00e3o do Itacoatiara.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Thiago invited me, I imagined I\u2019d hike the trail with half a dozen people. But when I arrived, there were about 100 volunteers! I felt safe with the movement and its structure. It was a chance to be there with my children\u2014something that normally wouldn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n The desire to found Montanha em Movimento came from a personal experience shared by Thiago and Patricia Mira, co-founder and vice-president of the NGO. \u201cThiago had a deep sense of injustice and selfishness regarding the inclusion of people with disabilities in nature. One day, we took a friend with limited mobility on a simple hike. When he fell during the trail, Thiago carried him on his back. It was a great experience for him and for us.\u201d<\/p>\n From that moment on, the pair began taking the first steps to contribute to accessible outdoor activities in the region of Niter\u00f3i, Rio de Janeiro. Through his research and drive, Thiago discovered the Julietti chair and a S\u00e3o Paulo-based movement already organizing inclusive hikes. Together, they took a person with a disability to the summit of Pedra da G\u00e1vea.<\/p>\n In 2021, Montanha em Movimento was born to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. The very first outing was with Bruno on a hike to a waterfall. \u201cThat day, there were more than 40 volunteers. The energy was amazing. We haven\u2019t stopped since,\u201d says Patricia.<\/p>\n The NGO has already impacted 80 people with disabilities, with activities in the Tijuca Forest, Alto Mour\u00e3o, Pedra do Elefante, Travessia Tupinamb\u00e1, Parque da Cidade, and waterfalls in nearby towns. \u201cWe even had a marriage proposal on the Travessia Tupinamb\u00e1! We\u2019ve also organized a sunrise experience\u2014an early morning hike to watch the sun rise from a mountaintop. In addition, we\u2019ve done rappelling, rafting, and canoeing.\u201d<\/p>\n Montanha em Movimento also partners with Ecoarte, an ecological project that offers interpretive hikes with support from biologists and visits to the local state park.<\/p>\n Promoting the exchange of experiences between children with and without visual impairments through free outdoor sports activities is the main goal of the Natureza de Crian\u00e7a Inclusivo<\/a>, created by Isabela Abreu. Targeted at children and teens aged 6 to 16, the program has already reached more than 400 families and features canoeing as its main activity.<\/p>\n During a full day of outdoor fun in a protected area of the Atlantic Forest, children learn to paddle, swim in the river, hike through the forest, listen to storytelling, and participate in other playful activities in nature. The program is endorsed by the Ministry of Citizenship and supported by the Sports Incentive Law.<\/p>\n Isabela\u2019s interest in inclusion initiatives began around 2005 with the creation of a project for wheelchair users. But after a conversation with her aunt, everything changed. \u201cI shared the idea with her\u2014she was a volunteer English teacher at an institution for blind people\u2014and she suggested we do the project with her students. At first, I was surprised, thinking they wouldn\u2019t be able to see the beauty of nature. That\u2019s when I had my first lesson in inclusion. She told me about the world of blindness, about heightened perception through other senses, and she convinced me.\u201d<\/p>\n That was the beginning of a pilot project at her beach house in Riviera de S\u00e3o Louren\u00e7o, S\u00e3o Paulo, where 15 blind adults were accompanied by 15 volunteer friends. The experience was the foundation for the creation of Grupo Terra, which became the NGO Instituto Terra two years later and hosted events with up to 300 participants\u2014150 blind and 150 sighted.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where Isabela met her former husband, who was visually impaired. They married and had a child. \u201cAfter six years leading the NGO, I stepped down, but I already knew I wanted to develop a project involving children with and without visual disabilities. I wanted other kids, like my daughter, to grow up alongside blind children. This way, they\u2019d also break down prejudices and barriers.\u201d<\/p>\n Since 2022, Natureza de Crian\u00e7a Inclusivo has not only impacted children and teens but has also created opportunities for families. \u201cWe impact both the families of blind children\u2014who get access to sports for the first time\u2014and children without disabilities, who, by engaging with blindness in nature, realize that kids with disabilities exist. In addition to sharing nature\u2019s benefits with blind children, we involve society in a broader inclusion process,\u201d says Isabela, who also teaches courses for educators.<\/p>\n The biggest lesson learned by Isabela and her team at Natureza de Crian\u00e7a Inclusivo is to focus on possibilities rather than limitations, bringing more opportunities to underprivileged children.<\/p>\n \u201cAccess to nature is more limited for children with disabilities because it\u2019s often far from where they live and linked to paid activities. There\u2019s also a lack of awareness among families about the benefits of outdoor activities, as their priorities usually involve cognitive and motor development\u2014like speech therapy and daily appointments. As a result, children with disabilities end up with less time to experience nature.\u201d<\/p>\n The Borboleta Azul Program, a partnership between Outward Bound Brasil (OBB)<\/a> and the Instituto J\u00f4 Clemente<\/a> (formerly APAE SP), has been running since 2010 and has had a positive impact on the lives of young people and adults with intellectual disabilities. The project has already supported 214 participants across 20 nature expeditions.<\/p>\n By developing socio-emotional intelligence, the program aims to unlock their potential and prepare them for inclusion in the job market. It seeks to break through perceived limitations and strengthen skills such as self-esteem, self-confidence, autonomy, and communication.<\/p>\n During four days in a remote area of the Campos do Jord\u00e3o region, participants face physical and emotional challenges on the trails, promoting both individual and group growth. \u201cThey take part in planning, hiking, setting up and taking down camp, kitchen management, and sanitation and hygiene routines. You quickly see their capacity to adapt and learn. They develop autonomy, self-leadership, and other core skills,\u201d says Humberto Medaglia, OBB instructor.<\/p>\n Throughout the expedition, participants are divided into work groups, each responsible for camp, meals, and safety. These responsibilities encourage social interaction and demand leadership, decision-making, and negotiation\u2014challenges they will later encounter in professional settings.<\/p>\n For many, it is their first time away from family, offering a unique opportunity to overcome fears and discover new abilities. \u201cWe take these participants out of their comfort zones and into nature. They step away from parental overprotection during the expedition.\u201d<\/p>\n Humberto notes that tasks like staying hydrated, managing personal hygiene, and cooking for a group present a new reality in which they must learn to care for themselves, for others, and for their environment. \u201cIn the workplace, sometimes they\u2019ll be leaders, other times team members. They\u2019ll have to handle frustration, negotiate, do things they\u2019ve never done, and face prejudice.\u201d<\/p>\n According to neuropsychologist Andrea Lorena, projects like this are essential for developing executive functions such as planning and working memory. \u201cThey also enhance a sense of self-efficacy and contribute to building self-esteem.\u201d<\/p>\n By offering an experience that goes beyond conventional expectations, Borboleta Azul helps build a more inclusive and compassionate society. Participants leave the program with renewed confidence in their abilities, greater independence to face everyday challenges, and a lasting sense of achievement\u2014ready, in other words, to fly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The stories of Bruno Dutra, from Niter\u00f3i (RJ), and Filipe Ferreira, from Itapema (SC), are deeply connected. Both grew up engaging in outdoor activities, which were interrupted by motorcycle accidents that left them in wheelchairs. As adults, Bruno longed to return to Cost\u00e3o do Itacoatiara, while Filipe dreamed of reaching Pico da Pedra. Thanks to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3586,"featured_media":33314,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1523],"tags":[1677,1549],"class_list":["post-33804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","tag-accessibility","tag-nature"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3586"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Guilherme,](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/guilherme-juliana-benjamin.webp\")
<\/p>\nThe Importance of Volunteering<\/h2>\n
How Volunteer Groups Keep the Julietti Chair Mission Alive<\/h2>\n
![\"Volunt\u00e1rio](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/voluntarios-montanha-cadeira-julietti.webp\")
<\/p>\n\u201cIf we\u2019re going to try, we\u2019re going to make it!\u201d<\/h2>\n
![\"Julietti](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/cadeira-jullieti-acessibilidade-montanha-pico-da-pedra.webp\")
<\/p>\nExperiences That Change Lives<\/h2>\n
The Mountaineer Who Inspires People with Disabilities and Their Families<\/h2>\n
![\"Murilo](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/murilo-e-pai.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"Accessibility](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/cadeira-acessibilidade-trilha.webp\")
<\/p>\nInclusive Experiences Revive Memories and Fulfill Dreams<\/h2>\n
![\"Trail-accessible](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/bruno-dutra-cadeira-acessibilidade-trilha.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"Accessible](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/acesibilidade-trilhas-niteroi.webp\")
<\/p>\nProgram for Visually Impaired Children Promotes Integrative Experiences<\/h2>\n
![\"Inclusive](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/canoagem-inclusiva-natureza-de-crianca.webp\")
<\/p>\nPeople with Intellectual Disabilities Prepare for Inclusion in the Job Market<\/h2>\n
![\"Borboleta](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/programa-borboleta-azul-OBB.webp\")
<\/p>\n