“Nada sobre nós sem nós”: as percepções das pessoas bibliotecárias com deficiência sobre acessibilidade, desenho universal e o uso dos recursos de tecnologia assistiva nas bibliotecas universitárias federais brasileiras

Abstract

People with disabilities, historically marginalized, have been gaining social and legal recognition, especially after the transition from the medical model to the social model and, more recently, to the biopsychosocial model. This movement has driven national and international legislation that ensures fundamental rights, including access to education, work, and information. In this context, Brazilian federal university libraries face the challenge of ensuring accessibility, promoting universal design, and effectively providing Assistive Technology (AT) resources, both for their users and for librarians with disabilities (LWD). This thesis presents applied research with a qualitative approach, aiming to identify the perceptions of PBCD regarding accessibility, universal design, and the use of AT resources in Brazilian federal university libraries as an aid to the development of their professional activities. Among the specific objectives, the following stand out: mapping the presence of PBCD in federal universities; investigating the university library sectors in which they are allocated and the AT resources they use to assist in their work activities; identifying the possible challenges faced in their work environments; and assessing their level of satisfaction with accessibility, universal design, and AT resources in their workplaces. For theoretical support, a systematic literature review was conducted, which revealed a scarcity of studies on PBCDs as a research subject in Library and Information Science. The methodology used combined the mapping of PBCDs with in-depth individual interviews, which were analyzed using the narrative technique. A total of 25 interviews were conducted, divided into two groups: PBCDs working in federal university libraries (G1) and in other information units (G2). The interview script consisted of three sections: characterization, work environment, and AT resources. The results show that PBCDs are allocated to different sectors, demonstrating their capacity for diversified action. However, architectural, communication, attitudinal, programmatic, methodological, and instrumental barriers persist. Architectural accessibility was the most cited, with reports of inadequate ramps and lack of tactile flooring. Communication accessibility was found to be incipient, especially due to the lack of Libras interpreters and Braille materials. Instrumental accessibility reveals a gap between the formal existence of resources and their effective integration into everyday life. Programmatic and methodological accessibility is still underdeveloped, while attitudinal accessibility revealed the persistence of ableist practices. Not all PWDs use AT resources, but those who depend on them report that without such tools it would be impossible to perform their functions. The level of knowledge varies: some have mastered the tools, others have intermediate or limited use, especially those who have recently acquired a disability. It is concluded that accessibility, universal design, and AT resources are not privileges, but fundamental rights that must be guaranteed. Therefore, by making the perceptions of PBCDs visible, this thesis seeks to contribute to scientific advancement and inspire institutional changes that consolidate Brazilian federal university libraries and other information units as effectively plural, accessible, and socially transformative spaces.