Paula Camino

Paula Camino (she/her) worked with Special Olympics International (SOI) to understand the current landscape of family advocacy for SOI athletes and their families. Paula worked with Margaret Turley, an SOI athlete to create this inclusive research project. 

Report

“A responsibility of families, a responsibility of everyone.” Family Advocacy for Disability Inclusion in Latin America, North America and Europe 

This report is an exploratory study of family advocacy for inclusive education of children with disabilities. Through an exploration structured around three central research questions, the study sheds light on the current landscape of family advocacy, the lived experiences of families in their advocacy efforts, and the overarching themes of community and belonging within this context. Key findings emphasize the continuous nature of advocacy, the role of collaboration, and the outcomes of advocacy. The research offers actionable recommendations, underscoring the potential for transformative outcomes in inclusive education through sustained family advocacy. 

Easy-Read Slideshows 

Paula worked with co-researcher and SOI athlete Margaret Turley to conduct this research. They created easy-read versions of the core findings of the report. These easy-read slideshows are informative, engaging and concise.  

Part 1: About Inclusive Education 

Part 2: About Family Advocacy  

Part 3: Survey Results: Access to & Support in Inclusive Education 

Part 4: Survey Results: Experiences with Advocacy 

Community Engagement Initiative

Paula and Margaret surveyed and interviewed Special Olympic family members in North America, Europe and Latin America. 39 people were surveyed about their experiences with advocacy and inclusive education. Find out how respondents answered in Experiences of Special Olympics Families in Advocacy for Inclusive Education.  

Read Paula’s and Margaret’s Blog: Embracing Research by Everyone, for Everyone 

Bio

Paula Camino (she/her) is a human rights consultant based in Lima, Peru, with over four years of experience in the public and non-profit sectors. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Perú, where she has received awards for her work in research and social responsibility. She supports Peace First as a Regional Lead for Latin America, is a member of United Network of Young Peacebuilder’s Pool of Trainers and a researcher at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú’s Interdisciplinary Research Group on Disability. Across her work, Paula’s guiding mission is her passion for leveraging education as a tool for social change, in both formal and non-formal spaces. 

Keywords

Family advocacy, Individual advocacy, Inclusive education, Social connectedness, Children with disabilities, Social model, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Collective action, Article 24, Special Olympics