THE CONTINUING EDUCATION IN PROMOTING INCLUSION AND A NEW LOOK ON THE DOWN SYNDROME

Resumen

The Down Syndrome (DS) is the main genetic disorder associated with mental disability. In spite of the advances in treatment and development possibilities with precocious intervention and actions of inclusion, there are still several prejudices involving DS, usually caused by lack of information. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the contributions of continued educative activities, executed in the program “Genetics Articulated with Society” in the deconstruction of social stigma. The methodological approach applied was the action-research as a strategy for transformation of socially constructed ideas associated to DS and genetical variation within the human populations. The intervention was executed by educational campaigns, lectures, discussion groups, workshops, group activities and establishment of partnership between participants. Changes in behavior observed at the end of activities, confirm the role of continuing education as factor of social transformation by spreading the knowledge and ethical reflections.