December 2010 update: the third accessible jangada was launched on Dec.6, 2010.
The coral pools off Pajuçara Beach in Maceió, one of Brazil's top natural attractions, are now accessible to people with disabilities. The accessible jangada - the signature sailboat of the Brazil Northeast - for Pajuçara pool tours was launched on Feb.3, 2010. See photos of the accessible jangada.
Architect Jorge Luiz Silva designed the jangada according to the principles of ergonomics. Sidney Cícero da Silva, a jangadeiro and fisherman with a disability, was involved in the construction of the jangada, which is made of pequi and jackfruit wood, maçaranduba and igapó.
The jangada has room for two wheelchairs. Access is completely self-sufficient. Difficulties posed by the soft sands of Pajuçara have been solved thanks to 16-foot long bamboo matting made by local artisan Durval Joaquim.
Two new jangadas have been launched as of this update. Besides Braskem, the project's first sponsor, the jangadas are sponsored by Caixa Econômica Federal and Hotel Radisson Maceió.
Institutional support comes from Adefal - the Alagoas Association of People with Disabilities, the city of Maceió and Coppe-UFRJ, an engineering research institute.
Bank Account for Accessible Jangada Support:
To be operational, the accessible jangada project needs at least four boats. They cost R$7.000,00 (about $3,763).
The bank account for contributions is:
Name: Projeto Jangada Acessível – Jorge Luiz Silva
Bank: Caixa Econômica Federal
Agency: 0199 – Almirante Tamandaré
Account: 013.00.221.864-5
Jorge Luiz Silva, designer of the accessible jangada, explains that the money donated will be used for:
- Construction of more accessible jangadas
- Studies of feasibility and development of projects for the adaptation of non-accessible jangadas
- Improvements in the Pajuçara infrastructure in order to better serve tourists with disabilities
- Training of jangadeiros, or boatmen, so they can offer the best service to people with disabilities
- An increase in the number of accessible points on Maceió beaches, as recommended by ADEFAL (the Alagoas Association of People with Disabilities).
Jorge Luiz informs that supporters can request a receipt signed by him and attached to a copy of a declaration from project participants COPPE – UFRJ (the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Post-Graduation and Research in Engineering - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro), recognizing the project.
You can request the receipt by e-mail (jangadaacessivel@hotmail.com) or write to:
Projeto Jangada Acessível
Rua Princesa Isabel nº 297 Farol
Maceió – AL
CEP: 57051-520
Brazil
Jangada Acessível also has logistics support from Maceió's tourism and urban administration (Semptur - Secretaria Municipal de Promoção de Turismo and SMCCU - Superintendência Municipal de Controle do Convívio Urbano).
Note: The real-dollar exchange rate used to calculate the estimated cost was 1.86.
Next page: More about the accessible jangada; tour location, hours and price
