Project Description
Federação Portuguesa de Autismo – FPDA
PORTUGAL
FPDA – Portuguese Federation for Autism is a non-profit NGO PD (Non-Governmental Organization for Persons with Disability) registered under the Portuguese law in 2003/2004. It replaced a national NGO that was founded in 1971. FPDA includes 12 NGOs all over the country and in the islands.
FPDA is under the umbrella of the National Institute for Rehabilitation (INR,I. P) that belongs to the Ministry of Social Welfare. The Statutes of FPDA are approved by the Ministry of Social Welfare and registered in the Portal da Justiça (Platform of the Ministry of Justice).
The responsible by FPDA are: the Congress (it is the name of the General Assembly) that elects every 4 years, among its members, the Executive Council and the Financial Council.
The members of the Congress are the delegates elected in representation of the 12 association members of FPDA.
The five members of the Executive Council run the federation and present the reports and planning to the approval of the Ministry of Social Welfare after being approved by the Congress.
The Financial Council writes one overview on the administration of the Executive Council and also presents it with the reports.
Staff involved
Master in Education (Boston University) PhD in Architecture (University of Lisbon).
Teacher in post-graduation courses in Universidade Nova, University of Azores, University of Porto, School of Education in Setúbal.
Lectures in Portugal, France, Italy, UK, USA (New York University) and in Cabo Verde.
Teacher in post-graduation courses in Universidade Nova, University of Azores, University of Porto, School of Education in Setúbal.
Former editor of LINK Magazine and Autism: Research and Practice (Sage Public.)
Decoration by the President of Republic of Portugal: Grande Cavaleiro da Ordem da Instrução Pública.
Speaks Portuguese, English and French.
She completed her curricular traineeship at the Psychiatric Hospital Center of Lisbon in the ward of chronically ill men for users aged between 18 and 75 years, with a heterogeneous diagnosis (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, oligofrenia, etc).
Since 2007, she has been working in the Vocational Training Unit of the Psychiatric Hospital Center of Lisbon as a teacher of the modules “Sport and Leisure” and “Strategies for Active Social Participation”. This Training Unit is intended for people who have a history of mental illness and who are trying to return to an independent life and enter the job market.
She has been working in the Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism of Lisbon (APPDA-Lisboa) since April 2008, having started her career as a Psychomotrician at the Center for Occupational Activities. From September 2008 onwards, she worked mainly in schools through APPDA-Lisboa’s Resource Center for Inclusion (CRI), targeting children and young people aged 6 to 18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Over the years she has participated as a speaker in several seminars at APPDA-Lisboa, the Portuguese Autism Federation and APPDA-Setúbal.
Postgraduate in Orofacial Motor Therapy by the EPAP Institute since 2013 and Master in Special Needs Education – Cognitive and Motor domain, in 2017.
Started professional activity in 2010 as a Speech and Language Therapist working in schools for the Ministry of Education. Since that date, has been working as Speech and Language Therapist in schools with multiple types of difficulties, such as syndromes, autism and learning disabilities.
In 2013 presented the oral communication “The new technologies as promoters of social inclusion” at the International Congress of Fragile X Syndrome.
Has participated in iniciatives about awareness raising about communication and special needs education.
In 2016 became team coordinator in a Residential Home for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Northamptonshire, England. In that same year, back in Portugal, worked as assistant dinamizing community awareness projects and institucional projects. At the same time, worked as a Speech and Language Therapist with children.
Recognized trainer by scientific and pedagogical council of continuous training and with Teaching Aptitude Certificate (CAP).
Currently serving as Speech Therapist at the Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism (APPDA-Lisbon) and in PIN – Progresso Infantil.
