Inclusão e acessibilidade: ações de educação em saúde direcionadas a alunos com deficiência ou necessidades educacionais especiais

Abstract

Health education developed within the school environment is an important strategy for promoting autonomy, preventing health problems, encouraging healthy habits, and strengthening citizenship. However, for these actions to reach all students, it is necessary to consider the specific needs of persons with disabilities and students with special educational needs, ensuring physical, communicational, pedagogical, informational, and attitudinal accessibility. This study aims to analyze health education strategies directed toward students with disabilities or special educational needs, discussing challenges and possibilities for developing inclusive practices within schools. This is a narrative literature review with a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory approach, based on scientific studies, legislation, and institutional documents related to inclusion, accessibility, special education, health promotion, and the School Health Program. The analysis indicates that communication barriers, inappropriate educational materials, insufficient professional training, prejudice, structural limitations, and weaknesses in coordination between health and education can restrict student participation. Strategies involving accessible resources, assistive technologies, plain language, visual and tactile materials, Brazilian Sign Language, audio description, alternative communication, methodological adaptations, and active student participation can expand the reach of health education initiatives. Coordination among healthcare professionals, teachers, specialized educational services, families, and the school community is also essential. It is concluded that inclusive health education goes beyond allowing students to be present in activities; it requires effective conditions for understanding, participation, autonomy, and the exercise of the right to health.