Health and education professionals partnership in inclusive education

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess whether the introduction of Assistive Technology favors the inclusion of students with cerebral palsy in four schools within the municipality of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) when mediated by the joint action of professionals in Health and Education. Fourteen itinerant teachers, five occupational therapists, three speech pathologists, four school principals, four students with cerebral palsy, and their families, four regular school teachers, and five teachers from complementary classes participated in this study. An action-research design was implemented using questionnaires, interviews, participants´ written records, photos, video recordings, and researcher's field notes. Four teams were formed consisting of occupational therapists, speech pathologists and itinerant teachers who had received training in the area of assistive technology. These professionals attended four to six meetings at the school and participated in seven supervisions outside of the educational space. The results of joint action included learning situations conducive to educational inclusion, awareness and attitude change of teachers, and closeness between teachers and students. The systematic use of assistive technology resources had a positive effect on the students' seating posture in the classroom; development of face to face and written communication; mobility through the use of appropriate wheelchairs; and independence in the daily school activities.