TECNOLOGIA ASSISTIVA APLICADA COMO METODOLOGIA DE ENSINO PARA ALUNOS COM SÍNDROME DE DOWN

Abstract

In recent years, a lot has been studied about the inclusion of people with special needs, international level events were held with the aim of developing basic guidelines for the creation of public policies and educational systems to promote the social inclusion of these people across the planet. In Brazil it is no different, the creation of laws and the implementation of public policies as guiding instruments for the creation of inclusive educational systems are among the topics of discussion. Everyone has the right to access education, which is why it plays an important role in the inclusive perspective so that people with special needs can have their right guaranteed. Among people with special educational needs, there are people with Down syndrome, a genetic alteration that causes delay in motor and cognitive development, which can also interfere with the development of other aspects, such as language being the most frequent cause of mental retardation. In this context, Assistive Technology - TA emerges, which is an area of ​​knowledge with an interdisciplinary characteristic, encompassing a range of resources and services that promote activity and participation of people with disabilities, providing quality of life, autonomy and social inclusion. Among the AT categories, Augmentative and Alternative Communication - CAA offers a set of resources and strategies that promote and expand the skills of expression and comprehension in the communication of people with limitations resulting from various disabilities, its resources can be used as pedagogical tools in teaching-learning process of children with Down syndrome, as they are able to stimulate cognitive skills through sensory, auditory and visual senses, allowing their access to knowledge in an organized way and within the educational context provided for in the school curriculum. From the perspective of inclusive education, the teacher has a very important role, as a mediating agent of knowledge, leading the student to new discoveries, overcoming challenges and developing their human, social and intellectual potential.