Citizenship training for all: critical approach to an everyday problem with students from the Specialized Educational Service of APAE in Belém

Abstract

This study aims to analyze how to address students’ everyday issues to promote their citizenship education, focusing on exploring inclusive scientific education practices for people with disabilities, especially young adults served by the Association of Parents and Friends of the Exceptional (APAE). The research participants were 25 students with intellectual disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Down syndrome, aged between 18 and 29 years. The research started with problematizing the recycling of cooking oil, a relevant issue in the local socio-environmental context. Activities were carried out over 15 days, including dialogues, educational video screenings, practical experiments, and a soap-making workshop at the Pará Science Center and Planetarium (CCPP). Data were collected through participant observation, logbooks, and photographic records, and analyzed using the Discursive Textual Analysis (DTA) methodology. The results highlighted the importance of the principles of Education in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) in promoting inclusive and relevant scientific education for people with disabilities. The interdisciplinary, dialogical, and participatory approach enabled the students to better understand scientific concepts and reflect on social and environmental issues. The collaboration between APAE and CCPP demonstrated the importance of partnerships between formal and non-formal learning spaces in promoting more accessible and meaningful education. This study emphasizes the need to rethink educational practices to ensure inclusive scientific education, valuing the diversity and experiences of students with disabilities.