Accessibility challenges at Joaquina Beach, Florianópolis, Brazil

The world lives in the age of the internet, real-time information, and a growing appreciation and concern for diversity across all areas of society. As a result of these transformations, discussions about the rights of people with disabilities and the challenges they face in navigating urban spaces and participating in various activities, including everyday tasks that should be guaranteed by law, as well as sports and leisure activities, have become more prominent. In this context, this study aimed to assess the accessibility conditions for people with disabilities at Joaquina Beach in Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina, located in southern Brazil. This research is characterized as exploratory and descriptive, with an applied nature, and qualitative analysis. It was organized into two stages: a theoretical phase, including bibliographic and documentary research as primary investigative strategies, and a field phase, based on the application of a checklist to assess accessibility conditions on beaches. The checklist covered the following aspects: 1) Support points for specific assistance for people with disabilities; 2) Access routes; 3) Communication and signage; 4) Parking spaces for vehicles; 5) Toilets; and 6) Beaches. The results indicate that Joaquina Beach currently does not offer satisfactory accessibility conditions for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage and implement public policies that can provide better conditions for accessing the beach and waterfront facilities, ensuring greater autonomy and freedom for all individuals.