It's a bright Thursday morning in Maceió, in eastern Brazil.

Ruty Pereira has no shortage of tasks to keep her busy at home. But here she is, seated in the front row of a meeting at her local community center. Paintings of balloons and clouds decorate the walls.

Pereira's 10-year-old daughter, Tamara, is perched on her lap. The girl's mouth hangs open slightly. Her arms are bent, locked at the elbows.

There are other moms here, sitting beside their children who are around the same age and of similar affect. Many of them are in wheelchairs.

Partway through the meeting, Pereira speaks up. She wants to know if everyone is eligible for the money being discussed

The group looks to the speaker, Alessandra Hora dos Santos, who has been their matriarch and champion for years. They listen to h

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