Famílias TEA-neurodiversas em Recife: autismo como fator transformativo do cotidiano

Abstract

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been studied since the 1940s as a developmental disorder likely to affect children and, currently, even in the face of great scientific uncertainty about the causes of this condition, it is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a developmental disorder that produces communicational, cognitive and behavioral deficits. The complexity of the disorder reflects on an important impact on the daily lives of families that have a member diagnosed with ASD, enabling the experimentation of stigmas, changes in family dynamics and institutional violence. Data collection included conducting semi-structured interviews and observing events aimed at TEA-neurodiverse families. From there, the research sought to understand the impact of ASD diagnosis on the daily lives of ASD-neurodiverse families in Recife and how they mean daily challenges that involve this experience. As a result, a relevant impact on family life was demonstrated in view of the changes caused by the search for diagnosis, the intensity of the prescribed treatment and the institutional violence experienced by family in general.