Before the revolutionary triumph of January 1, 1959, only eight centers with about 20 teachers attended to 100 children with special needs.
However, at present, more than 32 thousand children receive the benefits of this teaching concept within the Ministry of Education (Mined).
According to the national director of this area in this country, Beatriz Roque, 334 schools with 14 thousand professionals belong to the program.
As part of the initiative, the Ministry implements research to improve the educational model with the most advanced international approaches.
The universe of this education in Cuba is conceived as a system of educational institutions, care modalities, resources, special services, professional supports and extension channels for children, adolescents and young people with special needs, their families, educators and other actors.
The portfolio has 608 itinerant teachers to care for 1,651 children with these needs, while another 12,000 students in elementary, high school, pre-university, professional technical and youth and adult education receive care in regular centers.
Among the main features of Special Education in Cuba, according to the Ministry of Education’s website, are the coverage of the entire school population and its projection towards the National Education System.
The educational process is developed in a student-teacher ratio that does not exceed 12 students per group, or less in some cases, and includes a sustained work with the family and the community and the associations of people with disabilities existing in this country.
Special education relies on the advice of support teachers and other specialists for the corresponding preparation in techniques, procedures, augmentative and alternative communication systems and educational materials for students with disabilities.
It is a program with much more than schools, conceived as a work of infinite love, enriched by the use of necessary and novel resources, as well as the support and creativity required in each case.
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