The university administration met this Thursday morning (4) with members of the anti-ableist collective Adriana Dias, closing the first phase of the listening program that began in the first semester of the year. The group discussed accessibility issues – architectural, attitudinal and pedagogical – admission and retention programs, as well as criteria for access to scholarship programs and occupation of student housing.
Since the end of June, the university administration has met with representatives from the Central Student Directory (DCE), indigenous groups, representatives of the Black movement, and trans groups. The idea behind the meetings is to listen to demands, open avenues for solutions, and involve these groups in finding solutions to problems. According to the rector, Paulo Cesar Montagner, it is necessary to guarantee "permanent channels for listening."
At the meeting, the Adriana Dias collective suggested that the University adopt an accessibility committee in each unit – where accessibility issues will be addressed not only in general terms, but mainly in the specificities of each faculty or space. Representatives also stated that they want to participate in the committees monitoring accessibility works and follow the process of occupying the new student housing area – a space of approximately 44 square meters within the Barão Geraldo district in Campinas, with capacity to house 1,4 students. The area was acquired in August of this year.
The group also requested specialized assistance within the University's Specialized Educational Assistance Program for Students with Disabilities (PAEE), particularly regarding the evaluation of medical reports; the organization of a specific welcome event for students with disabilities; a mapping of employees who need adaptations in their working conditions and schedules; and the creation of institutional mechanisms for registering complaints about ableism.
