The library in the academic life of a deaf student: an experience report

Abstract

When deaf students get enrolled in a university they are faced with a reality that is not always the same as that experienced in bilingual schools until high school. As it is a wider and more diverse universe, there may not be the presence of the professional interpreter of Libras / Portuguese language, bilingual materials and communication may not happen in an accessible way for their understanding. This rupture in the academic reality of the deaf student is more frequent than it is thought and may present factors that compromise their trajectory of studies and learning. The literature shows us that there are possibilities to establish a satisfactory relationship between library - deaf student - librarian, but how does it happen? What can be offered to a deaf student using a university library? How does the care for this student occur? In order to try to answer these questions and get to know this relationship, theoretical support was sought in the national literature to build the framework of this study that aimed to analyze the responses to an interview conducted with a deaf student enrolled in a postgraduate program about his relationship with the library (staff and environment). The results point to challenges to be overcome by users with disabilities in libraries, such as the lack of communication, the absence of collections and specialized resources. It is concluded, therefore, that inclusive care for the deaf user still does not happen as it should and that libraries need to pay attention to fulfill their responsibility in the inclusive society.