The mother of student João Pedro Ladislau, 17, told g1 that her son was prevented from taking the entrance exam at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) because of his use of an insulin pump. After missing the opportunity, João Pedro felt guilty, but his mother, Alana Ladislau, advised him, saying: «I showed him that he cannot feel this way.»
The incident occurred last Sunday (27th). The Verbena Institute, responsible for administering the tests, issued a note stating that the use of medical equipment, such as an insulin pump, requires prior communication with the organizing committee via email at least three days before the exam. Alana Ladislau clarified that she had tried to contact the institute two months before the exam but faced difficulties registering the medical report.
Alana emphasized that João felt as if he were «committing a crime,» reinforcing to him the importance of the device and that he should not feel bad for using it. She declared: «He has to face adversity and know his rights, because this device saves his life every day and it is not a crime to use it.»
The mother explained to g1 that João has been diabetic since the age of one and, consequently, has lived with restrictions imposed by the disease since childhood. For Alana, the use of the insulin pump was vital for improving João's quality of life. She lamented the young man's exclusion from the exam, criticizing the current situation: «If it were 15 years ago, when he was already using an insulin pump... okay! But we are in 2026, the world is in the palm of your hand. They didn't let him take the test even without the insulin pump because he suggested putting it in the bag where he keeps his cell phones.»
Alana concluded that the episode served to teach her son perseverance in the face of future challenges, hoping that the next exam, Enem, will occur without similar problems. João Pedro was barred from the UFG exam for using the Continuous Insulin Infusion System. He sought out the coordination on site before the start of the exam to notify the need to use the pump, but despite trying to argue, he was informed that he could not take the test and was removed from the premises. Later, he commented that, with the case's repercussion, he felt calmer, as many people have gone through similar experiences.
Verbena Institute's Position
The Verbena Institute/UFG clarified that the candidate received instructions before the application regarding the necessary procedures to request special conditions for the use of the insulin pump, including indication in the system and submission of the medical report. The Institute also stressed that requesting the special condition did not depend on paying a new registration fee.
Regarding the difficulty in attaching the medical report, the Institute requested a screenshot of the error message or the displayed screen for verification, but such a record was not sent, and no system failure was detected. Notice No. 16/2026, in its item 5.12.1, determines that those who use an insulin pump must notify the Organizing Committee in advance via email and present the documentation up to three business days before the exam. Although the candidate received guidance, he did not formalize the request with the required documentation within the stipulated deadline. The situation was brought to the coordination only on the day of the exam, at which time preliminary analysis and adoption of necessary measures were already impossible.
The Verbena Institute/UFG informed that the notice (Item 5.8) does not provide a new chance for cases of lack of prior request or non-compliance with deadlines. The organization reaffirmed that it provided adequate guidance and that compliance with the rules aims to ensure equality, safety, and regularity in the selection process.