Public Policies For the Inclusion of Deaf Venezuelans as Migrants or Refugees in Brazil

Objective: Although deaf and hearing individuals have rights guaranteed by the Brazilian Constitution and other regulations, these documents do not always address the economic, social, and linguistic vulnerabilities of deaf migrants. Thus, this study aims to analyze public policies for this population and identify the challenges faced by the community in Brazil. Theoretical Framework: To achieve this, several guiding documents will serve as the foundation: the Federal Constitution (1988), the Law of Guidelines and Bases of National Education (1996), the Brazilian Refugee Law No. 9,474 (1997), the Migration Law No. 13,445 (2017), among other legal frameworks focused on individuals with deafness. Method: As this is a documentary research study with a qualitative approach, the methodology involves consulting primary and secondary sources to substantiate the results and analyses. Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that while public policies exist to support the Brazilian deaf community, they fail to accommodate the linguistic realities of Venezuelan deaf individuals. This is especially evident in educational policies which, despite promoting inclusion, remain limiting for foreign populations. Research Implications: Based on these premises, the study underscores the importance of discussing the inclusion of vulnerable groups, migrants, and refugees—particularly deaf children in school-age phases. This debate must consider the interaction of four languages: Portuguese, Spanish, Venezuelan Sign Language, and Brazilian Sign Language. Originality/Value: Given the lack of research in this area, this study is essential in the current context of migration in Brazil.