Deaf pupils's experiences and basic education in the state of Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

This article deals with the teaching of Brazilian Sign Language - Libras - in Basic Education to discuss the importance of integrating Libras into the curriculum structure of Basic Education based on the experiences of deaf students in-state public schools in Rio Grande do Norte. We realize the importance of anchoring this research to the voice of deaf people, as they are subjects directly affected by the education offered in schools. To this end, we discussed the legal documents that circumscribe Libras and their presence in the educational context. We are affiliated with the field of Applied Linguistics, as we have language as our guiding axis. The research, of a qualitative-interpretative nature, took place through semi-structured interviews with three deaf students. Based on the analyses, we found that deaf education needs to be anchored in both visual experience and sign language so that students have access to a quality education.