A inclusão de alunos com deficiência visual na Universidade Federal do Ceará: ingresso e permanência na ótica dos alunos, docentes e administradores

Abstract

The education of students with visual impairments is organized based on the differences, singularities and maximizing their potential. The inclusion of these students in higher education is a right and studies have shown how universities need to organize to offer them reasonable conditions, both the entry and training. This research investigates the phenomenon of inclusion of students with visual impairments as presented at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), considering the perspective of the students themselves, teachers and administrators. The field research conducted from 2007 to 2009, is ethnographic. We interviewed three students with a blind and low vision, studying Psychology, Education, Pharmacy, Languages-Spanish, eight teachers and four course coordinators, among other subjects. We also made observations in nine disciplines and lifting of various documents from the UFC. The data revealed that the educational needs of these students are different and the stories associated with their visual impairment and school life. Among the three blind students, each one uses some of the following specialized features: Braille, orientation and mobility and digital technologies and how the system Dosvox screen readers JAWS and NVDA. The UFC has and has expanded the use of certain features, such as Dosvox, but still needs to others, such as Perkins machine and Braille printer. It also needs to adopt the functional assessment procedure for students with low vision, enhancing their capabilities, for example, the use of resources such as the microscope, significant within courses such as Pharmacy. The history of inclusion in the UFC is marked initially by isolated and not linked to each other, changing from 2005, with the implementation and continuity of the Project includes UFC. The creation of both a commission to propose policies for accessibility, as the Secretary of Accessibility includes UFC, institutionalized actions inclusive, empowering them politically and pragmatically. In the UFC, the phenomenon of inclusion presents a greater degree, in some contexts and less in others. As for classrooms, five subjects were considered inclusive, two, two partially inclusive and not inclusive, based on various parameters. For example, the access of blind students the content covered, there was no special attention from teachers. The blind students used different strategies, how to scan texts at home or in the UFC, through services offered by projects that generated complaints. Administratively, the coordination of courses and other sectors showed no clarity on the adoption of inclusive. Although there was little reflection of inclusive actions in the UFC academic career of students with visual impairments, the current organization of this institution and inclusive policies and actions can predict a significant change in the near future.