“Nada de nós, sem nós”: a percepção de diferentes usuários com deficiência na circulação urbana do Campus A. C. Simões da UFAL

Abstract

The university space must be a model of democracy, ensuring equal access to all segments of society, including people with disabilities. "Spatial inclusion" is therefore essential in the structuring of these environments. This qualitative research aimed to analyze the perception of four users with different types of disabilities (one person with blindness, one with deafness, one in a wheelchair and one with reduced mobility) about their perceptions and experiences of entering and commuting to the A. C. Simões Campus of UFAL. For this, the Walkthrough method was used and objective measurements were taken through the Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyze the physical conditions of the university campus. The results revealed several obstacles to accessibility on campus, such as the lack of adequate signage, inadequate ramps and spaces that are difficult for people with reduced mobility to navigate. The research also indicated that, despite some accessibility initiatives, the campus still lacks more efficient planning to integrate all types of disabilities. In addition, the importance of universal design solutions, such as tactile and audible signage, aromatic vegetation and other sensory references, was identified to make the university environment more inclusive. The research also suggested the creation of a collaborative database on accessibility, which could serve as a tool to monitor and improve accessibility conditions on campus. Raising awareness about inclusion and implementing more rigorous infrastructure planning were also highlighted as fundamental actions to improve accessibility and ensure the effective inclusion of all students.