Abstract

ORRU., Sílvia Ester. Singularities and social impact of severe autism in Brazil. Rev Hum Med [online]. 2020, vol.20, n.2, pp.334-363.  Epub July 05, 2020. ISSN 1727-8120.

Severe autism is one of the levels of impairment of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in its fifth version. This study describes severe autism according to the scientific literature and discusses, from the information produced by the participants, its social impact on the family life of this subject. The research is characterized as descriptive-explanatory with quantitative and qualitative data in a perspective of qualitative approach for data analysis and interpretation. The results point to the intense suffering experienced by people with severe autism, as well as their families, as well as social impacts due to the absence of effective public policies that favor their quality of life and social inclusion. It is concluded that the invisibility of severe autism in Brazilian society is a factor that promotes and perpetuates mechanisms of social exclusion, besides the evidence of the need for further studies, research and dissemination on the subject.

Keywords : severe autism; singularities; social impact; public policy; quality of life.

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