O uso de tecnologia assistiva para alunos com deficiência visual na Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará

Abstract

The main interest of this study was to investigate the institutional actions and incentives of the Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA) for the use of Assistive Technologies (AT) by visually impaired students, in order to assess the impact of these tools on inclusion and higher education. The study was carried out with two visually impaired students at UFOPA and the president of the accessibility center. With a qualitative and exploratory approach, the study used content analysis to categorize the data and create categories of analysis. The results showed that although UFOPA has implemented some initiatives, such as providing technological equipment (scanners, magnifiers and Braille printers) and monitoring monitors, there are still significant gaps in pedagogical mediation and the continuous provision of AT. Students reported a lack of specialized professionals and insufficient resources, pointing to the need for greater support. The conclusion indicates that, in order to consolidate the full inclusion of these students, the university needs to increase investment in technologies and training for professionals, as well as adopting active search strategies to identify students who need more support. In this way, it is hoped that public and institutional policies will contribute to more inclusive and equitable higher education.