The creation of the Center for Accessibility and Inclusion at Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro: analysis from the Policy Cycle

Abstract

This article aims, from the approach of the Policy Cycle Approach, by Stephen J. Ball and collaborators, to present an analysis of the creation of the Center for Accessibility and Inclusion (NAI) in a Brazilian federal university. Using the three main contexts defined in the Policy Cycle (the context of influence, the context of text production and the context of practice), this analysis will deal mainly with the advances and challenges of access policies, permanence and participation of students with disabilities at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO). As will be seen, the contact with this experience makes it clear that there is undoubtedly progress in progress, but it demonstrates, at the same time, the existence of a set of issues that prevented and/or prevent the structuring of an effectively accessible and inclusive. Some of these issues will be discussed in this work, although others, just mentioned, deserve the attention of further research. In any case, despite the limits of the scope adopted here, we believe that this initial effort of reflection is justified and relevant because it helps to make visible some of the most important aspects of the debate regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities in Brazilian higher education.