Maria Manuel Carvalho

Maria Manuel Carvalho is a PhD candidate in Education, specializing in Diversity and Inclusive Education at the University of Aveiro, supported by a doctoral scholarship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). She conducts her research at the Research Centre on Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers (CIDTFF), based in the Department of Education and Psychology at the University of Aveiro, and is also a member of the EDUCA-Lab team. She holds a degree in Sport and Physical Education, with a specialization in Reeducation and Rehabilitation Sports, and a Master’s degree in Sport Sciences in the field of Adapted Physical Activity, both from the University of Porto. She also completed a postgraduate qualification in Special Education, in the Cognitive and Motor domain. At CERCIAG, an organization supporting individuals with disabilities, she developed her professional practice in Adapted Physical Activity, focusing on the promotion of healthy lifestyles, sexuality education, and the self-advocacy of people with disabilities. At the Aveiro Professional School (EPA), she initially contributed to the implementation of the integration framework established by Decree-Law No. 3/2008, supporting students with Individual Specific Curricula in academic, personal, social, and vocational domains. With the implementation of Decree-Law No. 54/2018, she actively contributed to the development of an inclusive organizational model, as part of the Multidisciplinary Team for Supporting Inclusive Education (EMAEI). In this role, she collaborated in identifying barriers to learning, defining support measures, developing Individual Educational Programs, and fostering interinstitutional collaboration, while also promoting the capacity-building of the educational and local community for inclusive practices. Currently, her research focuses on transition and mediation processes toward post-university life for students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, within the Individual Multidisciplinary Study Program (PIEM) at the University of Aveiro. Her work integrates Person-Centered Planning with the Supports Intensity Scale – Adult Version (SIS-A), aiming to understand and promote autonomous, self-determined, and socially recognized life trajectories in higher education and the broader community. Her professional trajectory has emphasized the implementation of Person-Centered Planning, promoting self-determination, active listening, and the construction of meaningful life pathways, grounded in belonging and community participation.