(Re) pensar a acessibilidade além da estrutura física: uma proposta de intervenção na Biblioteca Central da Universidade Federal de Alagoas

Abstract

Access to information is believed to be an important mechanism for social inclusion. Thus, the role of university libraries in the face of the plurality of their users and the pedagogical support offered for the production and dissemination of knowledge is fundamental. Statistical synopses of the National Institute of Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (Inep) show the steady increase in enrollment of students with disabilities in higher education institutions (HEI) in Brazil from 2011 to 2017. It is known that historically, people people with disabilities are often excluded from the social, economic and political life of the community; whether by recrimination or disregarding their needs in planning policies, programs and physical facilities; to the point that the mere enrollment of people with disabilities in HEI is not self-sufficient, and these educational institutions, among others, must mobilize efforts so that their students can also have their educational needs met. In this regard, this research aims to reflect the state of the art on accessibility and inclusion in higher education, to support a proposal for the implementation of an information accessibility laboratory at the Central Library (BC) of the Federal University of Alagoas (Ufal). To this end, an applied and descriptive research was conducted, with qualitative and quantitative approaches. In line with bibliographic, documentary, and direct unsystematic research in the BC / Ufal Via Research sector, the research design involves data survey by means of a questionnaire with Ufal undergraduate students who have some kind of disability, in order to investigate relevant aspects that may impact the performance of the organization of an information accessibility laboratory in a university library. At the end of the work, a manual was developed for the elaboration of accessibility projects in university libraries. The aim is to encourage the development of projects of this nature, and the strengthening of accessibility in university libraries, to mobilize and foster partnerships, focusing on accessibility-related actions in this context.