Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the meanings attributed to work by people with acquired disabilities. Originality/value: The study unveils a new understanding of the meaning of work for people with acquired disabilities. Design/methodology/approach: There were conducted in-depth interviews with ten people with acquired disabilities and inserted in the labor market. Findings: The results of this analysis suggest that, for the interviewed group, the work shares its importance with other spheres of life, like the affective one and the family circle. Among the meanings discussed in the scholarly literature, such as pleasure in working and the work as a form of social interaction, there were also new specific meanings attributed by the group, related to the identity of the person with disability, like barriers overcoming, the combat against the stigma of incapacity and the positive impact generation. On the other hand, remuneration and career progression appear as a consequence of work, rather than a factor that brought meaning to their work activities. The findings of this study contributed to a better understanding of the different meanings attributed to work by people with an acquired disability. Among that, the results pointed to the existence of other meanings than the usually addressed in the scholarly literature of the theme, what reinforces the contribution of this article to the study of the meaning of work.

RESUMOObjetivo: Apresentar e discutir as experiências e as atividades vivenciadas ao logo de um ano de gestão em um Diretório Acadêmico de Enfermagem. Métodos: Relato de experiência a respeito da gestão do Diretório Acadêmico, desenvolvido por um grupo de estudantes. Resultados: O diretório acadêmico proporciona, na graduação, a participação do aluno e sua integração às ações e lutas coletivas. A gestão do diretório acadêmico foi responsável por articular conselhos estudantis e movimentos em benefício dos alunos e democratizar as decisões que afetariam o corpo discente, além de organizar eventos científicos, incentivando a participação e a criação de ligas acadêmicas, bem como atuação e mobilização social, implementação de sugestões viáveis, articulando as ações com a Faculdade de Enfermagem. Conclusão: Experienciar a Diretoria acadêmica foi de grande valia para todos nós, sendo um momento ímpar que ficará marcado em nossas vidas, deixando a essência do cuidar, que se iniciou pela vontade de cuidarmos uns dos outros. Palavras-chave: Estudantes de enfermagem. Educação em enfermagem. Prática profissional. Enfermagem. ABSTRACTObjective: To present and discuss the experiences and the activities lived within a year of management in an Academic Directory of Nursing. Methods: Report of the experience with the management of the Academic Directory, developed by a group of students. Results: The academic directory provides, in the undergraduate, student participation and its integration to the actions and collective struggles. The management of the academic directory was responsible for articulate students councils and movements to benefit the students and democratize the decisions that would affect the students, besides organize scientifics events, encourage participation and create the academic leagues, as well as action and social mobilization, implementation of feasible suggestions and articulate the actions with the Faculty of Nursing. Conclusion: Managing the Directory was a great value to all of us, a unique moment that will be marked in our lives, leaving the essence of caring, which was initiated by the desire to care for each other.A enfermagem é uma ciência humana de pessoas e experiências, voltada ao cuidado dos seres humanos, cujo campo de conhecimento, fundamentos e práticas abrangem desde o estado de saúde até o de doença,