The launch of Dr. Ana Maria Bénard da Costa’s book, “Memories of special education – from the medical model to inclusive education”, took place on 8 March 2022, at 15h00, at the premises of the National Board of Education (CNE).

Around 100 professionals took part in the event, 50 in person and roughly the same number remotely.

The session was opened by Professor Maria Emília Brederode Santos, President of CNE, who welcomed all participants, alluding particularly to the symbolic value of the book launch taking place at CNE, given the importance of these “Memories” to the history of inclusive education in Portugal.

Professor António Neves Duarte Teodoro, Director of the Institute of Education and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Development (CeiED) of the Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies, then spoke, highlighting the fact that the book was published in “Edições Universitárias Lusófonas”, inaugurating a new collection of publications entitled “Education, Culture & Territory”.

The presentation of the book was made by Professor Francisco Alberto Ramos Leitão, Associate Professor at Universidade Lusófona and researcher at CeiED, and Professor Manuel Carvalho Gomes, member of the Board of Directors of IAVE and Advisor for CNE, who highlighted some of the most significant moments of Dr. Ana Maria’s long journey towards education. They underlined some of the features that most significantly guided this path: her combative and irreverent attitude, her permanent commitment to the causes of justice, equity and inclusion.

It was a singular moment, with a strong emotional and affective character, of reunions, also because many of those present had the privilege of integrating the Services that Ana Maria coordinated.

After these presentations, Dr. Ana Maria also addressed those present, in that tone so well known to all of us, and was warmly applauded. An apotheotic way to end this part of the presentations.

The book launch ended with a brief gathering of those present, during which Dr. Ana Maria recalled old times, as she autographed her “Memories”.