At the age of 58, Josimar Tavares de Medeiros, a resident of Florânia, in the Seridó Potiguar Region, about 220 kilometers from Natal, fulfilled an old dream: the conclusion of the History course at a distance. “If you have a dream, fight, don’t give up, we must always look ahead”, emphasizes the polo student at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), in Currais Novos, who, for 20 years, has lived with complications of diabetes, the main one being low vision.

In order to assist students who have some type of disability, in 2013, the Accessibility Sector of the Distance Education Secretariat (SEDIS / UFRN) was created. “The accessibility of SEDIS was very important in the conclusion of this graduation, in addition to the health problem, I had great difficulties in using the internet, the team brought me hope, providing new possibilities”, commented Josimar, speaking about the support he received from throughout the distance education graduation.

Essential support

For Elizabeth Ferreira, educational designer and flow manager of the Accessibility Sector at SEDIS / UFRN, “Josimar’s success in graduation shows that, in addition to adapting didactic materials, we also do welcoming and motivating work with these students who they are often helpless within an academic environment ”. In total, 19 students are currently served by the Sector.

From the support received, the difficulties with low vision were not able to prevent the definition of new goals for Josimar’s future: “in view of the knowledge acquired, my interest in preserving the history of my municipality grew even more” , declared the historian. In the coming days, he will put into practice the “Nossa História em Cores” (Our History in Colors) Project, with heritage education workshops for children and young people, rescue of popular entertainment and regional cuisine.

EaD approaches

This Friday (5), will be held, starting at 18h, the Collective of Virtual Collective Degree of students of the courses of Public Administration, Biological Sciences, Physical Education, Physics, Geography, History, Letters, Mathematics and Chemistry of the poles of Caicó, Caraúbas, Currais Novos, Lajes, Luís Gomes, Macau, Marcelino Vieira, Nova Cruz, Parnamirim and São Gonçalo do Amarante. The ceremony will be broadcast on the SEDIS Channel on YouTube.

Josimar Medeiros is one of the graduates who were looking forward to the arrival of that moment. For UFRN’s Secretary of Distance Education, Carmem Rêgo, the graduation of new students in undergraduate distance education courses represents the social inclusion of people who would not be able to attend the academic space, due to the distance from university centers: “it is the UFRN making its presence felt in the lives of those who thought they had distant dreams to be realized ”, he adds.

Bruno Cássio – SEDIS / UFRN Media Sector.