Bahiana congratulates former Psychology student

Amanda Cerqueira graduated in psychology from Bahiana and she received this year's National Silvia Lane Award, which she placed third, thanks to her graduation work on the social inclusion of people with disabilities in school. With an eye on her master's degree, Amanda is currently specializing in Cognitive Therapy at the Institute of Cognitive Therapy, in São Paulo. Check out the interview that the Bahiana did with the young researcher:

How does your research benefit society with regard to the inclusion of children with disabilities in the educational context?

This research, entitled "The psychological practice in education: from segregation to the inclusion of people with disabilities", is my course completion work (TCC) defended in 2010. I believe that this study enables, above all, sympathetic and active professionals in the area of ​​education, the improvement or even the awakening of a critical look at the historical construction of the educational modalities made available to people with disabilities (...) encouraging society to reflect on the importance of the march of professional categories in favor of a society fairer, as in the case of inclusion. Finally, this work allows us to believe that militancy is valid and that education professionals need to prevent feedback from a segregating system with a view to incessantly propagating inclusive practices that are the right of all.

What is your motivation for developing this research?

My trajectory as a Psychology student and as an enthusiast of the educational context led me to the construction of this research. This work reflects my awakening and maturation about the importance of what I understand as the socio-political role inherent to a psychologist, that is, acting in favor of a basic human right - education. I had a great desire to work in some area of ​​the profession that I could contribute in the sense of mobilizing, of adding something to the category and society. So, I had a decisive opportunity on this path. I am referring to Professor Josineide Alves who, as a psychologist, a specialist in the area of ​​inclusion of people with disabilities, was the first to invest in and motivate me for this work. I am also very grateful to professor and advisor Marilda Castelar and to the course coordinator, professor Mônica Daltro, who encouraged me from the beginning. In short, the construction of this work was based on a lot of motivation, as I was able to learn throughout the process that the struggle for what we believe, for social transformation, is of paramount importance and that, as psychologists, we have a lot to do with our effort and militancy to assert better educational contexts where everyone fits.

How can your work help to improve the psychological practices of inclusion?

The knowledge of psychological practices in education in an inclusive perspective, object of study of this research, is of great relevance. Given this perspective, it provides moments of reflection for professionals aimed at mobilizing the category regarding the review of the limits and possibilities of action in the educational environment, with a view to overcoming a crystallized action in favor of a more in tuned engagement with the inclusive policy, stamping in this scenario, a practice of promoting the rights of people with disabilities. Furthermore, in the field of education for people with disabilities, psychologists have gained significant professional recognition. This space has been important for the development of psychological ideas and is currently facing the demands of the proposed school inclusion. This research is also important due to the existence of few published studies on psychological practice in a more inclusive perspective; and, it is known, these professionals need to keep up with the changes, as they are affected by the impact of the new requirements that encourage a more consistent practice with human rights. 

How did you get the Silvia Lane Award?

At the end of my TCC defense, unanimously, the board decided that the Psychology course would forward my work to compete for the Sílvia Lane National Award. The work was sent in the first semester of 2011 to the Brazilian Association of Teaching in Psychology (ABEPSI), in the form of course completion work. I was ranked 3rd and, as yet another recognition, it will also be published on the BVS-PSI scientific website.