Para além da visão: construção de um roteiro de visitação guiada para deficientes visuais

Abstract

The Pro-Parreão I extension project was created with the purpose to discover and disseminate the natural and cultural wealth of Parreão I Park, involving the society actively in its conservation, preservation and appreciation. In an inclusive perspective and seeking to optimize the multipliers agents in the search for a more sustainable environment, this study seeks to build a proposal of inclusive environmental education with the visually impaired. Thus, the objective of this study is to present a guided visitation tour for the visually impaired, approaching from its construction and raising its importance to the Parreão I Park. In order to prepare the script, the first step was to seek out the methodologies that are or have already been applied to environmental education. Thus, a consultation was conducted on scientific articles, dissertations, thesis, textbooks, projects and web pages addressing this theme. The research emphasized that seven of the eighteen publications had special relevance in the use of didactic approaches specific to this audience: such as experiences, sensitive experiences, support materials and innovative actions. At the end of the first stage, bibliographical studies were carried out on Parreão I Park and previous fieldwork for records, identifications and observations of the main species of flora and fauna found in the park. The course of the ecological track was built to last approximately one hour. The points determined for the track were systematized to allow explanations and discussions about the importance of green areas for the city, history, diversity and richness of the park, existing local environmental impacts and other relevant issues, emphasizing the importance of the preservation of this and other green areas of the city. In order to social inclusion, it was suggested to place plaques in Braille with the names of the species presented in the course. The script also provides for the use of recorded sounds of the park's fauna and a traveling exhibition with seeds, leaves, flowers and fruits so that the participants have contact through other senses beyond sight. At the end of the route, two exhibitions will take place, in order to stimulate the senses: taxidermized animals and nature paths. It is expected that the track will sensitize and stimulate the visually impaired the need to preserve the environment, disseminate ecological citizenship and guarantee the right of inclusion and equal access of these people as citizens, thus contributing to the preservation and enhancement of the Parreão I park's biodiversity.