Barriers experienced by blind public servants in a public institution in Minas Gerais

Abstract

Historically, people with disabilities have had their rights neglected due to ableist attitudes. Among these rights, the right to work has long been questioned due to the mistaken association between disability and competence. Access to employment through public service entrance examinations can pose additional challenges considering the process, which may impose barriers. In this context, we conducted this qualitative research, a case study, aiming to investigate, from the perspective of visually impaired public employees working in a Federal Institution in the state of Minas Gerais, the presence of barriers influencing their job performance. Results are presented concerning two visually impaired participants who took part in semi-structured interviews, with the script elaborated by the researchers. Data were categorized and analyzed based on literature in the field. The results of this research reveal that most barriers experienced by the participants exist due to a medical model of disability still deeply rooted in current society. We identified attitudinal barriers: supervisors and colleagues still lack awareness of the full rights of people with disabilities in public service. Architectural barriers were also noticed, as well as difficulties faced by employees during the job allocation process and during probationary evaluations. Through analysis and reflections, we identified a need for public institutions to strengthen their institutional policies, contemplating actions and initiatives towards the establishment of an inclusive culture in spaces, so that employees with disabilities can be heard in their demands and can perform their duties without barriers.