Startup Weekend São Paulo Accessibility.

Surprising, deep and revealing. These are some of the strengths I would highlight from Startup Weekend São Paulo, a gathering of leaders, entrepreneurs and people full of the will to change the world, a genuine 54-hour immersion that took place between 12 and 14 July, and which I had the honor of taking part in. The event, open to the general public, focused on the theme of accessibility.

Among the creative minds present at that immersion, I would highlight Audilene Ribeiro, Ângela Godoy, Amanda Oliveira, Heli Rodrigues, Nico Nascimento and Vinicius Silva (photo). Together we formed a multidisciplinary team (from health, technology and business) to turn an idea into an innovative project. And I, who am the father of Bernardo, a four-year-old boy who is endlessly curious and full of the will to learn, and who incidentally also has Down syndrome, am happy to say that the project we created can genuinely make a difference in the lives of millions of families: an assessment platform for teaching and learning in disability, focused on the development of children with some form of disability that affects their learning.

The result of our effort was second place at the event, judged by a heavyweight panel, notably two professionals who are a reference on the subject: Linamara Battistella, professor of physiatry at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, and Carolina Ignarra, named best diversity professional of 2018 and winner of the Veja-se award, an entrepreneur, speaker, writer, consultant on the inclusion of professionals with disabilities and founding partner of Talento Incluir.

Overall, among so many innovative and creative ideas, I can say that Startup Weekend São Paulo Accessibility proved that what people require is universal, and that it is the strategies for meeting it that should be considered the special part. As a professional, I am happy with the teamwork. As a father, I am moved to know that families like mine can already dream of the day when they will see their children with the right to learn that every child should have. And as a human being, I keep believing in people, in ideas, and in a better world, for everyone.