Collaborative work: a tool for strengthening inclusive coexistence

The objective of this article was to strengthen collaborative work among peers to improve the school environment for children with disabilities in the 5th grade at Enrique Olaya Herrera School in Bogotá. The methodology employed was a critical social approach and a qualitative paradigm; the data collection techniques used included participant observation and interviews with parents, teachers, school administrators, and staff. The results demonstrated how the incorporation of collaborative work among peers contributed significantly to improving the social environment and the inclusion of children with disabilities. It allowed the key stakeholders in the educational setting—students, parents, teachers, school leaders, and administrative staff—to identify the advantages of the proposed strategy, including acceptance, communication between parents and teachers, classroom work, empathy, and the school’s educational quality. Notably, several authors highlight and consider collaborative work as a strategy to improve school coexistence through effective inclusion and as a contribution to educational quality.