Inclusão de acadêmicos com deficiência sensorial no ensino superior na UFJF

Abstract

This study investigates the challenges faced by students with sensory disabilities (hearing and visual) at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), focusing on the barriers that impact their inclusion, retention, and academic success in higher education. The research is an offshoot of the project “Emergency remote teaching during the pandemic: accessibility and inclusion in higher education”, developed by the Research and Extension Group on Curricular Accessibility and Inclusion in Education (ACINC), with funding from the Minas Gerais State Research Support Foundation (FAPEMIG). The scope of this study focuses on the relevance of listening to the narratives of these students, understanding their experiences and perceptions about institutional accessibility and inclusion practices. This is a qualitative research, based on the narrative methodology, which seeks to deeply understand the academic experiences of the participants. For data collection, semistructured interviews were conducted, in which the students answered guiding questions designed to encourage spontaneous and detailed reports about their trajectories, challenges, and adaptation strategies. The analysis of the interviews was conducted in an interpretative manner, considering both individual particularities and the structural aspects of the university that influence inclusion. The results indicate that, despite institutional advances aimed at accessibility, there are still significant gaps in ensuring equitable conditions for learning, participation, and retention. Based on the students' narratives, it was possible to identify the need for more effective actions that would promote not only access, but also the full academic development of these students, respecting their specificities and intersectionalities.