INCLUSIVE DESIGN IN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION: AN EXPERIENCE REPORT

Abstract

Despite legal guarantees of access and inclusion in Brazilian higher education, people with disabilities still face numerous barriers. In this context, health professional students may find in the field of inclusive design a means to also promote the health of this population. This article aims to describe the accessibility barriers faced by people with physical disabilities or reduced mobility in higher education and, thus, to point how simulated experience contributes to health professionals' education through the lens of inclusive design. This is an experience report of a practical activity from the Accessibility course in the Medical Physics undergraduate program at a federal university specialized in health sciences. The practical simulation resulted in the identification of physical, communicational, informational, and attitudinal barriers. Furthermore, students were able to empathetically reflect on the impact of environmental design on equity and inclusion for people with disabilities.