Audio description as a tool of Universal Design for Learning: inclusion of visually impaired children in early childhood education

Abstract

This work aims to contribute to the process of inclusion of visually impaired children in Early Childhood Education, from the historical-cultural perspective. Audio description (AD) is an assistive technology, created to make cinema and theater accessible to blind people. Over the decades, its use in educational spaces has proved to be of fundamental importance in the process of school inclusion of people with visual impairments. The objective of this work is to present AD as a tool of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) that, by promoting the inclusion of visually impaired children in Early Childhood Education, brings benefits to the development of all. Methodologically, we initially went through Public Policies for inclusion of students with disabilities, who dialogue with UDL and seek to build an environment conducive to the learning of as many students as possible. Then, studies are presented on the inclusion process, specifically of the visually impaired child, and demonstrate how the AD can be decisive so that the child who does not see has more and better opportunities to learn. In view of the studies, it is concluded that the teacher who adopts well-designed strategies, focusing on the inclusion of children with visual impairments in Early Childhood Education, contributes to the learning and development of all.