STUDY OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED IN THE "CONSELHO MUNICIPAL DE ATENÇÃO A PESSOA COM DEFICIÊNCIA E COM NECESSIDADES ESPECIAIS DE CAMPINAS, SP"

Abstract

The "Conselho Municipal de atenção à pessoa com deficiência e com necessidades especiais de Campinas/SP" (Municipal Council attending to people with disabilities and special needs in Campinas/SP) has eight citizen representatives with disabilities and special needs, elected in general assembly, summoned through city council, in accordance to Law nºt0.316 (November 9th, 1999). Among council members who are part of the present Council, we identified representatives that participate in four organized advocacy groups for the rights of the disabled: 1) the Campinas Fraternidade Cristã de Doentes e Deficientes nucleus, 2) the Centro de Vida Independente of Campinas, 3) the Amigos dos Deficientes Visuais group and 4) the Associação dos Surdos de Campinas. The aim of this study was to get to know the work each organization does and follow their participation in the Council. The procedure invo/ved going to monthly meetings, keeping a fie/d diary, analyzing document sources and interviewing members. We organized the data according to readings in the fol/owing subject areas: social movements, council managers, history of special education, and research methodology. The thematic points we used for analysis were: writing up the history of each group, its aims, main issues and proposa/s, as we/1 as listing the organizations with the Council. The results show that: 1) the Counselors representing organizations reveal higher quality participation and greater commitment; 2) it is quite difficult for the deaf to participate in mixed groups (deaf and hearing), because of the need for hearing interpreters to translate their claims and wishes;

3) the section where people with disabilities take part enables the voicing of their c/aims and defense of their rights.