The Field of Disability from the Perspective of the Teachers Enrolled in the Adapted Physical Activity and Disability Specialization Course of the IUACJ

ABSTRACT: The first edition of the specialization in adapted physical activity and disability is a milestone as it is the first graduate program with these characteristics in Uruguay. This implies in thinking the teacher training from different scenarios and populations. We set out to analyze the training and career path in the field of disability, as well as the inclusion and disability conceptions of eleven students who attend the graduate course. The data was collected through the semi-structured interview. Results show that only five teachers had previous formation in the area of disability and six of them had experience of working with people with disabilities. Everyone understands the importance of training to have the tools that will allow them to intervene in a better way in their practices. Conceptions of disability and inclusion often go through the medical and special education paradigm of rehabilitation, but, despite this, they present positive attitudes in relation to the challenge of working with the diversity of the students.