Desafios e possibilidades na produção e disponibilização de textos digitais acessíveis para estudantes com deficiência visual no ensino superior

Abstract

This study addresses the inclusion of students with visual impairments in Higher Education, focusing on the production and availability of accessible digital texts at a federal university in southern Brazil. The research is based on legislation such as Law No. 9,394/2006, which establishes the Guidelines and Bases of Education, Law No. 13,146/2015, known as the Statute of Persons with Disabilities and the Marrakesh Treaty, whose regulation was implemented by Decree No. 10,882/2021, which aim to facilitate access to printed texts by people who are blind, visually impaired or have other difficulties. The relevance of Informational Accessibility is also highlighted, through Assistive Technology resources, such as screen readers and audio description, to promote the autonomy of these students. Thus, the objective proposed in this work was to identify the challenges faced by the sectors involved in the production and availability of accessible digital texts for university students with visual impairments in this process and to propose solutions based on successful models in other public higher education institutions that can be adapted to the reality of this university. The findings reveal that, despite inclusion policies and programs, there are still challenges in the effective implementation of inclusive practices. Staff turnover in adapting materials appears as a central challenge, suggesting the need for investments in continuous training and retention of professionals. The importance of collaboration between different sectors to promote inclusive and accessible education is evident. As a result of the research, a procedural guide was created for the production and availability of accessible digital texts, aiming to standardize practices and meet the needs of students with visual impairments.