Trajetória política de estudantes com deficiência na Universidade Federal da Bahia

Abstract

People with disabilities have historically been excluded and neglected in terms of their rights, despite the security of the law. Although they have guaranteed access, the permanence of university students is crossed by a series of barriers that put them at a disadvantage compared to other groups. In order to overcome the adversities imposed on them, students with disabilities organize themselves collectively to demand their rights and improve the condition of the training process. This research aimed to understand the experience of social and political organization of students with disabilities at the Federal University of Bahia. The research was guided by a qualitative approach, using the narrative-biographical method, with a focus on life stories. Narrative interviews were conducted with five students with disabilities, enrolled in different undergraduate courses. The results show that students with disabilities at UFBA who are involved in socio-political organizations are better able to articulate themselves in order to claim their rights, and reduce the university barriers imposed on them, which leads to better permanence for the entire student body with disabilities. Although there have been advances in the permanence scenario, adjustments need to be made by the entire university community so that this public is truly included. The methodology centered on the life history and perceptions of the students enabled findings that contribute to the literature that is still scarce.