Prof. Sofia Santos | Inclusive Education and Psychomotor Therapy | Women Researcher Award

Ana Sofia Pedrosa Gomes dos Santos is an established scholar in special education and inclusive practices, with a career spanning more than two decades dedicated to advancing intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) research and psychomotor therapy. She holds a Bachelor in Special Education and Rehabilitation, a Master in Special Education, and a PhD in Special Education, and serves as an Associate Professor and active researcher at leading academic institutions. Her work focuses on conceptualization, assessment, and intervention within IDD, emphasizing adaptive behaviour, support intensity, personal outcomes, self-determination, and inclusive education frameworks. She has led and contributed to national and international projects in areas such as mental health, autonomy, physical activity, aging, transitions to adulthood, and community participation for people with IDD. Widely published across high-impact journals, she has authored and coordinated several books and validated key assessment tools used in educational and clinical settings. She has played advisory, evaluation, editorial, and consultancy roles in European and international organizations and has received multiple scientific recognitions for her contributions. Her research continues to influence policy reform, service transformation, and inclusive educational practices, fostering empowerment, self-determination, and improved quality of life for people with disabilities.