Analysis of the admission of students with disabilities in undergraduate programs at the Federal University of Santa Catarina

Abstract

This study aims to analyze and discuss the characteristics of students with disabilities who enrolled in undergraduate programs at a Federal University in Santa Catarina from 2014 to 2024, linking these characteristics to policies on reserved seats, with the goal of understanding how such policies have influenced the profile of incoming students at the institution. The data were obtained from an open data spreadsheet available on the university’s website for the specified period and organized into electronic spreadsheets. An exploratory data analysis was then conducted, applying descriptive statistical tests of frequency, mean, median, and percentage. The results indicate a progressive increase in the number of students with disabilities since 2014, attributed to the expanded guarantees of access through reserved seats, allowing students with various disability conditions to enter and broadening the diversity of the undergraduate student body. Additionally, the study highlighted the need and importance of implementing accessibility policies and actions, underscoring the significance of an inclusive approach focused on the retention and quality education of these students.