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Portugal has a disability champion : Jose Antonio Bourdain by St . Cloud State University Student , Tera Brooks
March 2022 will commemorate 34 years that Jose has worked with people with disabilities . It has been a long and winding road that he has traveled to get him to where he is today . Jose grew up in an asperous neighborhood in Lisbon , where , as a youth , he lost many friends . Because of the tremulous circumstances that surrounded him , at the age of 16 , he made the decision to quit school and get a job to help support his family . It was during this time that he started to work at a college for people with disabilities . He soon found that he had a great interest and fondness working with this population . When Jose was 30 , he attended the University of Lusíadas to obtain a degree in human resources management and at age 34 , he attended the University of Lisbon and obtained his master ’ s degree in political science . When asked what life experiences prepared him to be an advocate for the disability community , he simply replied with a smile , “ almost none ”. He felt that it was by chance that he chose a profession working with disabilities , but when he reflected further , he believes that his first work experience attributed to his career path .
In 1998 , Jose became the founder of a non-profit organization , CERCITOP , which is a major social cooperative and one of the biggest organizations in Portugal . CERCITOP provides homes for people with disabilities and offers home health care . They oversee two hospital facilities and a rehabilitation clinic . CERCITOP ( nonprofit organization ) services receive funding through the Portuguese government . Customer ’ s fees are based on their salaries , making it equitable for all clients .
Through Jose ’ s work in this organization , he realized that his country didn ’ t have services in tourism for folks with disabilities . He wanted to provide tourism for the Portuguese , as well other countries , to experience the travel opportunities in Portugal . Tourism for All was established in 2013 and it opened doors for many people as a travel agency and tour operator . Jose ’ s plan was for everyone to travel without limits , including individuals with disease or disabilities . The organization
Jose Antonio Bourdain
consists of a fleet of vehicles , medical equipment , staff to assist with care and , of course , with knowledge to create leisure programs with accessibility . Some of the services Tourism for All provides includes accessible accommodations , daily care , monitoring by a nurse , physiotherapist or medical assistant , visits and tours , and various activities . Stephen Hawking , the well-known English theoretical physicist , has utilized Tourism for All services . When Jose was asked what his first venture was with this organization , he shared that they started on cruise ships . Initially they had one driver that was also a caregiver , and they operated as a tour guide showing buildings and monuments and explaining the history of Portugal . Jose says that as the CEO for CERCITOP , it is important that he manages the organization , but also