As condições de acessibilidade e mobilidade urbana das pessoas com deficiência no bairro residencial Pequis na cidade de Uberlândia (MG)

Abstract

Accessibility and urban mobility are central dimensions for the realization of the right to the city and for the construction of more inclusive, democratic, and equitable urban spaces. In Brazil, however, these rights are still limited or denied to significant portions of the population, especially to People with Disabilities, who face structural, social, and symbolic barriers that restrict their mobility and hinder their appropriation of public spaces on equal terms. In the municipality of Uberlândia, in Mynas Gerais, Residencial Pequis, located in the western zone of the city, constitutes an emblematic example of these contradictions. Originating within the scope of the federal program Minha Casa Minha Vida, the neighborhood was conceived with the aim of serving low-income families, expanding access to housing. However, the implementation revealed a series of challenges related to infrastructure and urban integration, which directly compromise the quality of life of the residents and, in particular, of People with Disabilities. Among the identified problems, uneven sidewalks frequently modified by the residents themselves, lack of ramps and adequate signage, poor public transportation, and insufficient accessible urban facilities stand out. These conditions directly impact the right to go and come, restricting daily mobility and accentuating processes of exclusion. The general objective of this research is to analyze the conditions of accessibility and urban mobility for People with Disabilities in Residencial Pequis, both in terms of the housing provided by the housing program and the urban facilities, schools, daycare centers, parks, health posts, and public transportation, which should ensure access to basic rights and promote social inclusion. To achieve this objective, a qualitative approach was adopted, articulated in three stages: bibliographic survey, documentary research, and field investigation. The research shows evidence that accessible infrastructure in Residencial Pequis is not merely a technical issue, but expresses processes of segregation and social exclusion. By neglecting the needs of People with Disabilities, historical inequalities are reinforced and the construction of fairer cities becomes unfeasible. In this sense, the study contributes to the academic and social debate on urbanization, social housing, and the rights of People with Disabilities, reaffirming the urgency of integrating accessibility and mobility as structural axs of urban policies.