The delegation had the opportunity to meet with professionals in three different settings. In each setting we see that the Brazilian standards for supports are short therapeutic interventions of 1-2 times a week.
CAPSI Maria Clara Macado is a community-based psycho-social-educational service provider, funded through the public health system, that serves children with intellectual disability, autism, and mental health concerns. The center is one of a small network in the city; it serves 30 children and their families daily, and around 150 weekly. delegate made a very well received presentation on promising practices in dual diagnosis. We learn that while children with disabilities are entitled by law to an inclusive classroom, parents can (and do) reject typical classrooms for segregated ones.
SMPD, the Municipal Secretariat of People withe Disabilities of Rio (the closest Equivalent I would imagine would be a city or county disability administration), hosted a tour of it's multi-service center for residents with disabilities. At this location, people of all ages with low vision, deafness, and physical disabilities, along with people with developmental disabilities have access to discrete therapeutic services. Approximately 600 people are served on a daily basis with most of those attending twice a week.
Finally, the chair and faculty of State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ)'s School of Education met with The delegation to discuss teacher preparation and strategies for inclusion in public schools. We learned that at present there are no special education teacher training programs; rather, all general education teacher programs provide some course work on special education. What is underscored is that while children are entitled by law to an inclusive education, general ed teachers report being under-prepared to support children with disabilities in their classrooms.
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