As part of its strategic approach to equity, ABE Brazil is creating practical, hands-on learning experiences in biotechnology that make it easier for students with disabilities to be included and succeed.
The ABE Brazil site hosted students to work through the first lab in Foundations of Biotech, Tools of the Trade, focusing on practicing the essentials of micropipetting. Participants included both neurotypical and neurodiverse students, including students with autism, Down Syndrome, and global development delays. While the teachers of these students were initially hesitant about their students’ abilities to complete the labs, ABE Brazil employed alternative strategies that allowed these students to be successful.
As one ABE Brazil team member shared, “[T]heir teachers' first reaction was to ask us to provide parallel activities or to state that we should not ‘worry’ about them because they would be coming with a pedagogical assistant. Our approach, however, was especially focused on replacing glass material with plastic—just to avoid accidents—and to see if these students could work with the micropipettes and the agarose gels just like the rest of the class. And they absolutely could.”
By providing appropriate accommodations and support, ABE Brazil is breaking down barriers to ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, can understand and participate in ABE effectively. STEM education is crucial for all students, including those with disabilities. It offers many benefits that contribute to their personal growth and identity.