New measures to support learning and inclusion: perception of occupational therapist’s integrated in Resource Centres for Inclusion (RCI)

Abstract

With the recent implementation of the Law Decree No. 54/2018 on inclusive education, there is no scientific basis on the perception of health professionals involved in multidisciplinary teams integrated in schools. Therefore, it became necessary to understand the perception of occupational therapists integrated in Resource Centres for Inclusion (RCI), regarding the implementation of new measures to support learning and inclusion. The objectives of this study consist of investigating the changes that the new measures imply in the intervention of these professionals and to understand the impact they have on the occupational performance of children in need of mobilizing additional support measures. To carry out this study, the chosen method was the transversal observational descriptive one, through the qualitative approach, and the data collection was carried out through online questionnaires. The data was processed through content analysis, using the WebQDA software. The obtained results suggest that occupational therapists consider that the current legislation was a target for different interpretations which has led to a divergent implementation in the educational community. The scientific evidence that defends the inclusion of students with additional support measures in the regular teaching rooms supports the occupational therapists’ perception regarding the positive impact on the occupational performance of these students and peers.