Practice English Speaking&Listening with: O caso da Escola Donícia Maria da Costa - Educação inclusiva na prática

Literacy,

physical education,

dance class,

read,

learn how to tidy up the house,

wash the dishes.

I still can't do carpets.

Since 2005, we include all the children,

it's even redundant to say that, but it's an inclusion with no exceptions,

leaving no one out.

In the same year I took over,

we had the entry of two full-time teachers for the multimedia room,

which are teacher Juliana and teacher Andreia,

and that made all the difference in this construction.

So, to look at this professional from the eyes of a teacher too,

because I also am a teacher,

with respect,

and go to the classroom and not only guide this professional.

We got to the classroom and teach him to do it there,

because the doubts, the difficulties, appear from there.

Usually, I have a curriculum to follow,

and based on that, I prepare, typically, a material

and send it to the multimedia room,

they study it and help me adapt the materials.

When we think "let's assist the family",

how will this family help the child to do homework?

How will they guide her without doing it for her?

Without looking at the child in a assistentialistc manner?

The family's absence to me is a big challenge,

or when the family that can't combine the same philosophy

with the school's philosophy, with the philosophy of inclusion,

of that child being able to develop in a different way

and that supports the knowledge that we acquired from education and training.

Ana Carolina has a low number of absences,

on the mother's understanding even living in another neighbourhood.

Rain or shine,

we realize that she makes all the efforts for the girl to be here,

and when she can't, she explains why.

To lose the fear of being in such a place and start thinking

"oh, I'll go to the supermarket, I'll take a bus".

To lose this trauma that they have of "because I am blind, because I can't see",

even though they know they are capable of doing it.

I was even afraid of the dark,

afraid to go out alone,

but from now on I'm walking alone.

I'm going to Maria's to buy bread for my mom when she asks.

we count on a very strong support in the sense of our own resources,

the City Hall's own resources, to the acquisition of materials,

teacher training, physical accessibility.

It's amazing that in her class there are children who have no disabilities

and haven't been able to progress as much as Ana has progressed.

The aim is that Ana has equal content to that of the other students,

but the content is in a demand that she can follow.

She is in a very difficult class, rather undisciplined,

so we create strategies not only for her, but for the whole class.

In the same way a public school child suffers bullying,

the only difference this time,

talking to a parent,

is that his son has a diagnose, but he is a child like any other.

If we act together, school and family,

for certain this child has better conditions of developing,

of having autonomy, of being able to interact with others

and of building himself and being the subject of his own history.

Look.

To look at people.

At people with whom you are relating to in the classroom,

regardless of any disability.

To look at people, because they are people.

That's it...

My difficulties, my fears and trepidations cannot be grounds

for me to exclude or to not want that child in the classroom.

And it's good to know that everyone is in this boat,

this is new for us,

this coexistence with those who never coexisted.

This will bring a very good consequence to the world.

This interaction not only benefits the child with disability,

it benefits all who have the opportunity to attend a school

that reflects life as it is.

And that's life.

To me, I think she saw that "either I develop myself or I do nothing".

I always say "Ana, let's learn to write",

"let's learn to read".

"Oh, mom, I want to be a teacher".

But for you to be a teacher you have to learn to read, you have to study.

You have to...

Isn't it, Ana?

Yes, it is.