Of all the regions in Brazil, the southeast region (where Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located) is the wealthiest. Sao Paulo is the heart of the financial network for the nation and has a strong health care and education infrastructure.
The delegation had the privilege of participating in a symposium today at APAE-SP, the Sao Paulo affiliate of APAE, a national nonprofit that is a multi-service organization. In addition to school, pre-vocational, day habilitation, geriatric, and family support programs, APAE operates a clinical laboratory for blood work. It's major blood screenings are for PKU, hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell.
Three delegates gave presentations that were very well received. Presentations by APAE-SP underscored the challenges in diagnosing ID in Brazil with a limited number of adapted and validated assessment tools. Diagnosis for children under 6 and for those with substantial verbal limitations are largely based on clinical impressions, and changing regulations have prompted reassessments on a large scale.
One by-product of the reassessments has been the reclassification of a substantial number of people to a Borderline Intellectual Functioning diagnosis, which has resulted in loss of needed supports. Our delegation shared APAE-SP's frustration in systems that tie benefits to a diagnostic label, rather than support needs.
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