According to the medical literature, the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) it is 'a group of disorders characterized by a shared spectrum of qualitative impairments in communication and social interaction, associated with repetitive behaviors and restricted interests'.

The TEA nomenclature was given, because today it is known that autism has different levels of intensity and variable symptoms. The same symptom can occur in a severe, mild or moderate form, depending on the age of the child, how much stimulation he receives and the appropriate intervention.

O Multidisciplinary Autism Spectrum Disorder Care Service (SEMEA) refers to the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary care offered by CEPS for children and adolescents from Macaíba and the metropolitan region of Natal (RN) who have characteristics of ASD.

SEMEA began to be structured at CEPS in 2016 and has already established itself as a reference service in the region. It is organized and structured to ASD diagnosis and treatment, providing evaluation and confirmation of the clinical diagnosis of this type of disorder in an interprofessional way and integrated to the tripod of action of the ISD (teaching-research-extension).

Among the objectives of the project are to offer multidisciplinary outpatient care (speech therapy, physical therapy, neurological and neuropsychological) to children and adolescents with suspected and/or diagnosed ASD; provide guidance to parents through educational groups; carry out theoretical-practical health education activities about the Disorder for undergraduates, graduate students and health professionals; to offer equine therapy as a complementary therapeutic resource; promote continuing education actions for professionals closest to children so that they have a closer look at signs that may suggest early ASD.

Among the special activities offered by SEMEA are equine therapy, promoted in partnership with Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) through Agricultural School of Jundiaí (EAJ). CEPS collaborates permanently with the Fighting Owl Mothers Association, from Natal (RN), which organizes cinema sessions specially designed for those with ASD characteristics.