learn how to contribute to inclusion

People with Down Syndrome should be respected, celebrated and ensured of freedom and opportunities in education, in the job market, in entertainment, equal to other people. The purpose of World Down Syndrome Day, which is celebrated annually on March 21, is to reinforce the practice of inclusion that must be carried out every day, through awareness of society and public policies.

It is estimated that in Brazil the Syndrome is present in 1 in every 700 births, which totals around 270,000 people with Down. However, Brazilian laws are a great stimulus to employability and access to teaching. However, reality shows that these laws are often not complied with and, when they are complied with, they are only half done, since there is often a lack of a good support structure to aggregate people with the syndrome and make them feel comfortable and happy.

Importance of subsidies in education and work

Many schools have adopted measures to meet the special educational needs of people with Down Syndrome, such as adapting the teaching environment and hiring specialized teachers. “Although the number is still insufficient in many schools, especially in the public network, today we have many positive examples of inclusion in education and in the labor market that should be highlighted”, highlights federal public defender André Naves, specialist in Human and Social Rights .

In the labor market, the Quota Law and subsidies for companies also help to increase hiring. Many have adopted policies of inclusion and hired people with Down for different functions, such as customer service, production and administrative services. “Businessmen have realized that people with the syndrome are able to perform their functions well and can contribute to the productivity of the business”, says André Naves.

However, according to the federal public defender, there is still much to improve. “It seems that it is not always so clear how important diversity is for organizations, generating profit, but mainly bringing gains in human capital. In many places, there is still no adequate training or a policy to raise employee awareness and support them”, he comments.

Difficulties in entering the job market

The public defender recalls that people with Down syndrome who are not employed tend to have more depression and lower self-esteem and that entering the job market is an important step for young people with the syndrome to be able to make the transition between the world of childhood and the adult world. However, the excessive concern on the part of family and friends makes this passage difficult – and rightly so, many times -, mainly due to the way in which people with Down are treated on a daily basis, the look of pity or contempt from others people; not to mention the low expectation that society has in relation to their contribution to the community and the job where they are inserted.

There are still prejudices and a series of myths involving these professionals. “It is important to emphasize that the relationship with work does not only involve the person with Down syndrome and the company. The family, the school and society in general need to walk together in defense of effective inclusion, so that the entry of these individuals into the labor market can become a reality, bringing satisfaction to them and good results for all”, recalls the defender.

Inclusive education challenge

In 1998, only around 200,000 Brazilian children who needed special education were enrolled in regular Basic Education classes. In 2014, there were almost 700,000, distributed in 80% of the more than 145,000 schools across the country. In 2017, the number of special education students already surpassed the barrier of one million and, in 2018, reached 1.18 million; a growth of almost 11% in just one year.

Most – just over 992,000 – studyin regular public schools. However, in practice, the challenge of bringing knowledge to everyone finds barriers in the inclusion of people with Down. Among the more than 270,000 people with the syndrome, only 74 were successful and completed a degree, according to the Down Movement.

Goals to be achieved

The National Education Plan (PNE), approved in 2014, lists 20 goals to be achieved in 10 years — 2024, that is, next year! Among them, the goal of inclusionin the regular education network: “Universalize, for the population aged 4 (four) to 17 (seventeen) years old with disabilities, pervasive developmental disorders and high abilities, or giftedness, access to basic education and specialized educational assistance, preferably in regular education network, with the guarantee of an inclusive educational system, multifunctional resource rooms, classes, schools or specialized services, public or contracted”, says goal 4 of the Plan. In addition to the PNE, the Brazilian Inclusion Law (LBI) also ensures that people with syndromes have their right to education guaranteed.

André Naves points out that it is essential that schools strive to meet the goal of inclusion and are increasingly prepared to welcome and value the skills and potential of students with Down. He highlights the need for curricular activities to be adapted to meet the demands of these students. “The active participation of parents in the educational process of their children is very important. Education is a fundamental right so that children with Down can develop fully”, he declares.

Chaverim Group helps with inclusion

In São Paulo, Grupo Chaverim – “Amigos” in Hebrew – is a private charitable association, focused on serving people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, aiming at socialization and social inclusion. The institution has already helped dozens of people with Down in the areas of education and work.

A good example is Estela Brick, 57 years old, who currently works at Serasa and is a volunteer at Chaverim, registering coupons for the Nota Fiscal Paulista, which helps a lot in collecting donations. “I like to play ball, dominoes. I sort out my clothes for work. I like swimming, going to Carnival, going to the theater”, she says, happy to have conquered her space in society.

Another who also has support from Chaverim is David Goldzveig, 30 years old, who is studying at ADID. “I like painting, drawing and also sports. I do swimming and artistic gymnastics. I have many friends in Hebraica and Chaverim. I like having friends and that makes me happy”, he declares, who also participates in the Dog Day Club – daycare and hotel for dogs -, where he takes care of the dogs, feeds them, plays with them and is responsible for cleaning the place. The owner of the business also has a daughter with Down syndrome and, when David’s family looked for a place to leave his dog, Max, the businesswoman ended up also taking in David, who works on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the afternoon.

How to include people with Down Syndrome in companies?

According to the Down Movement, the work environment helps people with Down to gain responsibilities and develop relationships with diverse groups, which has a direct impact on cognitive, mechanical and adaptation skills to different situations, including personal life. For the Movement, a person with the syndrome should have the same opportunities as others, but within their singularities, having their needs respected through levels of support for their effective insertion and autonomy.

Check out some tips to ensure inclusion at work

• Ensure physical accessibility;
• Implement assistive technology (products, resources, equipment, practices and methodologies that promote functionality, aiming to increase autonomy, independence, quality of life and social inclusion);
• Overcoming unconscious biases (patterns we maintain throughout life that influence the way we perceive ourselves, relate and interact with each other);
• Combat ableism (it is necessary to recognize and identify ableist attitudes to avoid embarrassment and combat prejudice);
• Prepare the company’s HR to map positions and functions; accessibility analysis; awareness; recruitment and selection; occupational health assessment; training; and retention of professionals with Down syndrome.

Companies need to involve all their teams in inclusion actions. “If necessary, they should even have the support of a specialized consultancy”, concludes defender André Naves, who is also a Counselor for Chaverim.

By Andreia Constâncio