Approved in a public competition, but prevented from taking up a position as a teacher at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS), Manoella Treis, 29 years old, still hopes to be able to reverse the decision.
However, on the 2nd, IFRS sent a statement to Manoella's lawyers stating that "the candidate is not, administratively, in a position to be nominated again in the aforementioned competition".
🏥 Manoella is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), endometriosis and an autoimmune disease (type 2 inflammatory disease), and undergoes continuous treatment with injectable medication three times a month.
The researcher, one of the youngest to obtain a doctorate in Brazil, was offered a place to teach Administration classes, competing in the reserve for people with disabilities (PwD).
Contacted by g1 this Friday (9), the institution reaffirms that "the candidate is not, at the administrative level, in a position to be nominated again in the aforementioned competition" and that "there is, at the administrative level, no possibility of re-appointing the candidate on other IFRS campuses or locations based on the same competition".
When called up this year, the candidate chose to be assigned to the Veranópolis campus, in Serra Gaúcha. She continued with the process and underwent forensic examination. However, the IFRS medical board declared the candidate unfit for the location.
After the refusal, she applied to take up a position in the city of Rolante, also to act as an Administration processor, but was denied. Under IFRS, she cannot be appointed at "other IFRS campuses or locations".
Dissatisfied, Manoella says she will continue with the lawsuit and awaits a resolution.
"I continue to fight and wait for justice. My lawyers received an administrative communication from IFRS stating that I am not valid for the competition because I do not meet the minimum requirements", says the student.
'Geographical incompatibility' was the reason for the decision
The decision that prevented him from taking up the position was based on what would be a "geographical incompatibility" for the position. The term is related to the decision taken after the mandatory medical inspection to enter the federal public service.
Although the medical board did not point out any impediments for Manoella to practice teaching, the understanding was that the city would not offer the necessary health structure to meet her clinical conditions and the medical support she needs.
In a note, the IFRS says that "the conclusion was that teaching was incompatible in the municipality chosen to practice the profession due to the lack of healthcare facilities".
Manoella Treis, 29 years old — Photo: Personal archive
Admissions process
Manoella always wanted to work as an educator.
“My dream was an academic career,” he says.
She was approved in the IFRS public competition through the vacancies reserved for people with disabilities (PwD). At the time of the call, he received two placement options, in Veranópolis and Erechim, and chose the Veranópolis campus.
During the admission process, he presented documents proving his status as a person with a disability and information about other health problems.
According to IFRS, additional documents were requested and, based on the medical opinions presented by the candidate herself, the board concluded that there would be an incompatibility between her treatment needs and the infrastructure available in the chosen city.
Manoella, in turn, states that she is able to work and maintains that the treatment does not compromise her professional activities.
"From a health point of view, I can say that I have never been so well. [...] Thanks to the support of the SUS and the health plan, I have access to modern treatment with injectable pens. I apply the medicine on three Fridays of the month, a strategy that allows me to rest at the weekend without compromising my academic and research routine", he explains.
Health care
In a note, the institution states that the decision was not related to professional capacity or aptitude to carry out teaching activities. The understanding, according to the agency, was restricted to the health care conditions available in the municipality.
Diagnosed with an inflammatory disease in 2023, she argues that she was already working on the IFRS campus in Veranópolis, as a substitute teacher. At the time, she claims she was using the same medication and that the treatment did not prevent her from working.
The municipality has a hospital, the São Peregrino Lazziozi Community Hospital, which treats urgent and emergency cases, but does not have an ICU. In more serious cases, patients are referred to neighboring municipalities.
In a joint statement, the hospital and the Veranópolis Health Department say that: "In cases where the clinical situation requires resources or services not available locally, referrals or transfers are made to regional or state reference units, in accordance with the regulatory flows of the Unified Health System, private plans, when applicable, and the clinical needs of each patient."
Specifically regarding the case, the secretariat explains that there is a distinction between the health structure available in the municipality and the criteria adopted by the educational institution in its admission process.
"The assessment carried out in the admission process, as well as the criteria considered for this purpose, are the responsibility of the educational institution."
To Manoella's lawyers, the hospital said that it has an emergency room and is able to apply injectable immunobiological medications in an outpatient setting. Manoella considers that the structure would be sufficient to continue with her treatment.
Researcher seeks to reverse decision in court
In order to try to reverse the decision, the researcher filed a lawsuit.
"I trust that the Court will enforce the law, guaranteeing not only my compensation, but setting precedents so that other people with disabilities do not suffer the same embarrassment. I just want to exercise my right to work on what I chose, dedicated myself to and achieved on merit", says the researcher.
The case was taken to the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF-4) and the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
In the action in the Federal Court, she requests an injunction to suspend the effects of the unfitness report, guarantee her immediate appointment and investiture or guarantee the reservation of the vacancy until the trial. To the STF, she alleges violation of constitutional principles and precedents related to the inclusion and access of people with disabilities and chronic conditions to public service.
In the decision, judge Carlos Lenz of TRF-4 understood that there are still not enough elements to rule out the presumption of legitimacy of the act of the medical board that considered the candidate unfit due to supposed incompatibility between her health needs and the medical infrastructure available in the city.
According to TRF-4, the controversy involves complex technical issues that require the production of evidence, a statement from the public administration and possible judicial expertise, which prevents a definitive decision at an early stage of the process.
What does IFRS say
"The Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS) expresses its respect for the candidate's trajectory and informs that issues related to inclusion, accessibility and the rights of people with disabilities are treated by the institution with seriousness and commitment to complying with legislation.
In the case in question, the candidate participated in a public competition carried out by IFRS and was approved for the teaching position, through the reservation of vacancies. During the call, the candidate was offered two accommodation options, on the Veranópolis and Erechim campuses, and she opted for Veranópolis.
To take office in a federal public position, Law No. 8,112/1990 establishes the need to carry out an official medical inspection. After appointment, at the admission medical inspection, the candidate presented documentation that proved her status as a person with a disability and another health condition, and additional documents were requested. The candidate's attending doctors informed that the health structure available in Veranópolis would not be sufficient to meet her treatment and monitoring needs.
The IFRS medical board's assessment did not question his ability to practice the profession. The conclusion was that teaching was incompatible in the municipality chosen to practice the profession due to the lack of healthcare facilities, according to the opinions of the candidate's own doctors.
The administrative procedure was conducted in accordance with the competition notice and applicable legislation, including the rules that regulate medical expertise in the federal public service.
Subsequently, the candidate appealed to the Judiciary to question the decision. To date, the administration's acts (IFRS) have been validated by the Federal Court in the 1st and 2nd instances (interlocutory appeal).
It is noteworthy that, on August 28, 2026, a sentence was handed down dismissing the author's requests as unfounded. On September 24, 2026, the author filed a request for the granting of a precautionary measure, which was rejected on September 27 by the Federal Judge of the 1st Federal Court of Novo Hamburgo/RS.
The candidate appealed the sentence, with IFRS having until October 28, 2026 to present a statement on the appeal. The case will then be sent to the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region.
It should be added that the candidate's previous work at the Veranópolis Campus occurred as a substitute teacher, under a fixed-term contract, and not as a permanent employee. These are different situations, with different entry procedures.
In the case of hiring a substitute teacher, this is a temporary contract, subject to a simplified admission procedure. Entry into a permanent public position, through competitive examination, involves carrying out an official medical inspection for the purposes of taking office, as established by the legislation applicable to the federal public service.
In this specific case, the health condition mentioned in the process would only have been identified during the period in which she worked as a substitute teacher. Therefore, the situation presented during the temporary employment is different from that subsequently validated in the medical inspection procedure for taking up the permanent position.
Finally, the institution reaffirms its commitment to inclusion, accessibility and respect for people with disabilities, as well as to observing the principles of legality, impersonality and equality in the conduct of its administrative processes. IFRS remains available to provide appropriate clarifications through official channels, always observing the legal limits of confidentiality and data protection."
What the municipality and hospital say
"Joint Positioning
Municipal Health Department and São Peregrino Community Hospital
In view of the recent demonstrations published in the press and on social networks regarding the health structure of Veranópolis and the care conditions available in the municipality, the Municipal Health Department and the São Peregrino Lazziozi Community Hospital jointly present the following clarifications, with the aim of contributing to clear and adequate information about the reality of the local health network.
Veranópolis has an organized health structure to serve the city's population and also the demands from the municipalities in the microregion.
Constituting a reference for Veranópolis, Fagundes Varela, Vila Flores, Cotiporã and Nova Bassano. The municipality has a general hospital of medium complexity, with an open-door emergency service and urgent and emergency services, in addition to the municipal Primary Health Care network, made up of health units, specialized services and other points that are part of the Health Care Network.
In cases where the clinical situation requires resources or services not available locally, referrals or transfers are made to regional or state reference units, in accordance with the regulatory flows of the Unified Health System, private plans, when applicable, and the clinical needs of each patient.
As for the specific case currently under discussion, it is necessary to distinguish the structure and health services available in the municipality from the criteria adopted by the educational institution in its admission process.
The Municipal Health Department and HCSPL can provide clarifications exclusively regarding the health network, the services available and the respective service flows. The evaluation carried out in the admission process, as well as the criteria considered for this purpose, are the responsibility of the educational institution.
Finally, the Municipal Health Department and the São Peregrino Lazziozi Community Hospital reaffirm their commitment to serving the population, to the coordinated functioning of the health network and to the responsible referral of patients whenever there is a need for care in services of greater complexity or reference."
