Estudantes com deficiência visual na computação: percepções e desafios enfrentados no ensino de computação

Abstract

Public policies and institutional changes in recent decades were fundamental for the increase in the number of students with visual impairment (VDE) in higher education. In addition, recent studies have shown the interest of students with visual impairment in Computer Science majors at the college level. Many studies are focused on the inclusion, permanence, or construction of instruments for VDE, but few are from the perspective of these students regarding the difficulties and challenges faced in training in Computing. Hence, this proposal seeks to identify which contents are challenging for VDE in Computing according to their perspectives. To do so, initially, we carried out a survey, in which data related to the identification of the VDE profile, the contents addressed in the graduation on accessibility and Assistive Technology (AT), and accessibility issues were collected. We identified that approximately 70\% of incoming students had previous contact with computer courses; that there is still a deficit in the teaching of content related to accessibility and AT; and that, especially, Instrumental, Attitudinal, and Methodological accessibility need to be more present in the academic environment. Then, we conducted interviews aimed at deepening knowledge about the challenges and problems faced in Computing training. The result obtained from these studies is the first step towards understanding these students about their experiences and thus fostering the discussion of improvements that can make the teaching-learning process of Computing more inclusive for VDE.