WORKSHOP: KNOWING, LOVING, AND CARING: A NECESSARY TRIAD FOR INCLUSION

Abstract

Given that education is a right for all (Article 205 of the Brazilian Constitution) and recognizing the need to ensure access, retention, and the conditions necessary for learning, socializing, and developing the skills required to enter the workforce, the research community, and society at large—and acknowledging the significant challenges students with disabilities still face in their educational and social development—the workshop "Knowing, Loving, and Caring: A Necessary Triad for Inclusion" was created. This inclusion project engages both neurotypical and neurodivergent high school students in a dynamic process of reflection on how we address this vital issue and what can be done to foster an even more welcoming environment—one where students are viewed as individuals in development who need empathy, acceptance, love, and care. For truly inclusive education to occur, the first step is understanding: understanding others, their conditions, and their needs, and—building on that foundation—helping neurodivergent students develop more easily. The primary goal is to demystify Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and other conditions by highlighting not only their limitations but, above all, their strengths. This enables neurotypical students to better understand and interact with neurodivergent students, fostering genuine inclusion and paving the way for education characterized by equity and social quality.