Contributo da disciplina de Educação Visual para a inclusão de alunos cegos e com baixa visão

Abstract

This work aims to describe the internship experience in the subject of Visual Education (3rd cycle) exploring the potential of the arts in order to promote the inclusion of blind and low vision students in school environment. This goal is achieved over the action-research that aims to: raise awareness of the difference, enhance the collaborative work between students in the construction of inclusive teaching materials; apply strategies and procedures leading to the creation of a book with tactile illustrations and enlarge the number of adapted books in the School Library. The project was developed between October 2013 and June 2014, during the supervised teaching practice in a reference school for the education of blind and low-vision students. The school and class characterization was essential to the development of appropriate and contextualized practices, giving students several innovative and creative experiences. Action-research methodology was applied focusing on theoretically sustained and reflexive practices for the development of inclusive skills, promoting respect and awareness of each other. The results obtained in this study revealed a positive difference, even slightly, in the attitudes of students with normal vision towards their visually impaired colleagues, after the implementation of the inclusive pedagogical experience. There were also defined, on the basis of the investigation, a number of assumptions and procedures that aim to and support the creation of a tactile and inclusive book. The book produced gave a small contribution to the School Library adapted books assets. This study allowed us to recognize in the arts an important role in promoting essential values to the development of more active, critical, aware and supportive future citizens.

Date of Award	7 May 2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Paulo César Dias (Supervisor)