This research aims to study the physical accessibility in the Federal University of Pará
(UFPA) by the years 2009 until 2013. In these terms, we did a case study to understand the
context of that university as representing the access problem in higher education for people
with disabilities. The purpose is to provide an analysis of physical accessibility conditions in
the UFPA campus, according to the assessment of students with disabilities. Therefore, we
looked for identifying how to distinguish a place with physical accessibility, through the view
from the UFPA’s students with disabilities, as well as understand the implications in their
academic life brought by the current physical accessibility conditions in the UFPA, and check
the structural works that must be done to ensure the entry and stay of these students,
according to their view. It is a qualitative research. Data was collected using semi-structured
interviews with five students with disabilities from that university, a non-directive interview
with the architect from the Department of Physical Structure (DIESF) of the UFPA’s
prefecture, and documents reports and photos from the structural works already done in the
campus. The data analysis was based within the content analysis method. Through the
testimonies from the interviewees, we got that physical accessibility is not a universal
concept; meanwhile, in a subject-environment comprehension, it is understood as access for
all. We realize that accessibility in the campus is an essential step for knowledge sharing
between the students. However, facing the physical structure’s barriers found in UFPA, the
students suggest the sequel and expansion of the current structural accessibility works that are
in course, while fostering researches about physical accessibility in higher education.
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