Luis Gabriel from Colombia tells us about his personal experiences participating:

Speaker biography

I am 31 years old, I am from Bogotá, Colombia; My parents are Luis Gabriel and Aida, I have two sisters, María Andrea and Laura Liliana, and I currently work as an administrative office assistant at the ABC REPECEV Customs Agency, which specializes in handling and moving at a national and international level.

I completed my school studies at the Center for Learning and School Leveling (CANE), between 1996 and 2006, graduating as a technical bachelor in Systems. Later, I did some intensive courses in Systems and Textile Screen Printing at the Missionary Foundation of the Divine Redemption "San Felipe Neri", eventually founding the stamping company STAMPARTE (2008), also serving as print coordinator. Between 2010 and 2014, I was part of the pilot program for the inclusion of young people with disabilities called the OAT Program (Options and Supports for the Transition to Adult Life), of the Transitions Crecer Corporation, based at the University of Rosario, having work practices at the Mederi University Hospital and the District Institute for Recreation and Sport (IDRD).

In addition, I completed an intensive course on labor inclusion in collaboration between the RECA Organization (Supported Employment Network) and SENA (National Apprenticeship Service), obtaining the title of Technical and Logistical Support Assistant. Thanks to RECA, the “First 40 thousand Jobs” Course and the Compensar Job Network, I am doing the work I do now.

Since 2010 I have been part of ASDOWN Colombia as a self-advocate leader in favor of people with intellectual disabilities, and through ASDOWN, since 2015 I have represented the Region of the Americas within the council of Inclusion International, which is dedicated to the fight for inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities globally in all aspects of social life.

Additionally, I have participated in sports events and competitions with the Renacer Sports Group, winning medals and recognitions in the Basketball, Swimming, Skating and Bowling categories; In addition to standing out in the Plastic Arts section with the group “Pintando Sueños”, in Compensar.

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