Tecnologias assistivas e digitais no atendimento de usuários com deficiência visual na biblioteca central da UFMA: o direito à acessibilidade

Abstract

Contemporary society requires that libraries adapt to keep up with technological advances and, thus, meet the information needs of their users. Thus, it seeks ways to effectively promote inclusion and, thus, make the library an environment accessible to all. In this context, several changes have occurred in the process of recording and transmitting information, and, for this reason, it is practically inexplicable that users with sensorial disabilities remain on the margin of the process of searching for information and knowledge. Within this context, it was developed, at the Central Library of UFMA/Campus São Luís, a research of exploratory type, descriptive, with qualitative approach, whose general objective was to analyze if the Central Library is prepared with human resources, assistive and digital technologies that enable the access to information to students/users with visual impairment. The research participants were 20 visually impaired students enrolled in undergraduate courses at UFMA/Campus São Luís. The data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The research findings reveal that most students who are blind or have low sight rarely go to the library, because they claim that it does not have adequate accessibility for people with visual impairment, in this specific case, due to absent and/or inefficient signaling; inadequate lighting; lack of equipment with accessibility and/or absence of accessible collection. Furthermore, it was possible to verify that most research participants stated they use assistive and digital technologies in their daily activities and in the development of academic research, among them, Screen Readers such as Dosvox, NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) and Jaws. Regarding applications, Talkback and the manual or electronic magnifier were the most mentioned. Most students showed knowledge about assistive and digital technologies aimed at the visually impaired public and pointed out the need for improvements in the scope of the Central Library, as well as the continuous training of reference professionals. In view of the facts, it is expected to give visibility to the users with sensorial disability at the Central Library of UFMA, in order to enable projects and programs aimed at the accessibility to the means of information made available by the Library, as well as to expand the accessibility projects to the other units of the Integrated Directorate of Libraries, seeking to work on the due reception and inclusion, aiming at improvements so that users with sensorial disabilities have the proper support in the development of researches, regarding the communication process and informational support under the use of assistive and digital technologies specific for this public, emphasizing the right to education and accessibility, common to all citizens, without distinctions and limitations.