Nicola Cuomo (Andria (BA), 1946- 2016) was an Italian educator and Professor of Special Education Inclusion at the University of Bologna. Since 1974 he has conducted research on the difficulties of learning and teaching and on reducing the impact of disability with particular reference to Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome and autism. Resulting from thirty years of systemic research he has developed a didactic method known as "Emotion to Know" which is based on the theories of Vygotsky, Wertheimer and Husserl. The method is based on the premise that a person with a disability should as much as possible lead a life that takes into account their own originality and resources in developing an intentional consciousness, independent living, and independent path in a global, active, lived and acted way.