INCLUSÃO NO ENSINO SUPERIOR NO BRASIL: PANORAMA GERAL E MAPEAMENTO DE DEFICIENTES VISUAIS EM CURSOS DA ÁREA BIOMÉDICA NO ESTADO DO ESPÍRITO SANTO INCLUSION IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN BRAZIL: OVERALL PICTURE AND RESEARCH OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE BIOMEDICAL AREA IN ESPÍRITO

This study aimed to investigate the overall picture of undergraduate students with deficiencies (SD) in Brazil between the years 2000 and 2008 and, through field research, to identify the number of visually impaired students (VIS) enrolled in the biomedical area courses of Espirito Santo state in 2006 and 2008. Between 2000 and 2008, the number of SD and VIS has increased five and 15 times, respectively. In 2006, in the Espirito Santo state, we identified 17 VIS in 81 courses, and, in 2008, we identified 14 VIS in 41 courses. Considering only the 41 courses which participated fully, over three semesters, there was an increase of 50% of visually impaired students. These and other results discussed in the present work may contribute to discussions about strategies to improve inclusive education in our society.