Inclusão e realidade: um olhar sobre a pessoa surda.

Abstract

The research aims to discuss the inclusion of hearing-impaired students within the mainstream educational environment based on two concepts: 1) regular classroom with the support of an interpreter of Libras and 2) special class of hearing-impaired students with specialized sign language teachers. Taking for granted that this inclusion is neither a permanent situation nor a more physical insertion of special needs students into a regular classroom, we attempt to find coherence on the official government position that it is necessary to change society so that all its citizens have the rights to equal universal education. Based on these considerations, we put forward the following questions as the basis of our study: What are the needs presented by the hearing-impaired students? How to form an appropriate team and how should that team perform? Does the methodology used by the teacher facilitate class participation and the achievement of learning goals? Is the teacher able to recognize student potential and is the teacher capable of creating proper strategies to aid the learning process? How does the insertion of an interpreter of Libras affect the process? How do teachers, interpreters and students perceive the educational process? Using interviews of teachers, interpreters and hearing-impaired students coupled with observation of teaching methods and learning activities in special and regular classrooms in public schools in the state of Pernambuco, we collected data that outlines problems in both special and regular classrooms. These problems start from the application and development of activities to the ways in which the participation of all parties involved (teacher, interpreter, and students) interact in the learning process as well as testimonials from educators on aspects related to said inclusion. It was possible to observe that the interpreter did not take into consideration the peculiarities pertaining to the way of thinking, feeling and discussing issues of the hearing-impaired students and, this was further aggravated by the fact that the teachers did not alter their teaching procedures in order to accommodate the hearing-impaired students. This problem seemed less apparent in the special needs class for hearing-impaired students which is a totally separated learning environment. Based on these findings from the data collected, it is recommended a new way of looking at inclusion, stressing the urgent need in overcoming the discussion focusing on inclusion-exclusion, at the same time promoting the importance of developing practices strongly based on culture.