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Cristiano Pedroso

University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Presentation Title:

Educational development and adaptive skills in down syndrome

Abstract

Down Syndrome is a genetic alteration that affects approximately 1 in every 800 live births, with variations according to maternal age. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), it is the leading cause of intellectual disability in Brazil. In the educational field, the main challenge lies in literacy and the development of basic school knowledge. ADID, in São Paulo, employs psychometric techniques to measure cognitive development, adaptive skills, and school abilities. Using Match-to-Sample task models, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), and complementary neuropsychological assessments, significant correlations were found between adaptive skills, such as communication and social interaction, and school abilities (rho = 0,656; p < 0,01). With school stimulation programs focused on adaptive skills, ADID achieved significant improvements in 40 adolescents with school progression difficulties over a period of 1 year and 6 months. Friedman test results indicate significant improvements in adaptive skills (X² = 12.811, df = 2, p < 0.01), performance in Portuguese (X² = 19.414, df = 2, p < 0.01), and mathematics (X² = 11.029, df = 2, p < 0.01). The program was funded by the Municipal Fund for Children and Adolescents (FUMCAD). Adaptive skills proved to be excellent predictors of school performance and can be developed from early childhood.

Biography

Cristiano Pedroso completed his PhD at USP, the University of São Paulo, in the Department of Neuroscience and Behavior. He is currently pursuing postdoctoral studies in experimental psychology. A psychologist and educator with a specialization in neuropsychology, he is the Educational Director at ADID, an institution located in São Paulo that serves individuals with Down syndrome across different age groups, including childhood and adolescence. He has 22 years of experience in the field of developmental disorders.