The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) promoted, this Monday, the 4th, a series of lectures in reference to World Autism Awareness Day, celebrated worldwide every April 2nd. The event, which included the in-person and remote participation of parents and guardians of autistic people, educators and health professionals, had as its central theme: “How can science promote the functionality and autonomy of autistic people?”. 

Organized by the Multidisciplinary Autism Spectrum Care Service (Semea/ISD) in conjunction with multidisciplinary preceptors and residents, as well as master's students, from the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center (Anita) and the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences ( IIN-ELS), ISD units in Macaíba, the event brought together Ricardo Oliveira, who is an autistic person who works on the Autismo Pensante channel, on YouTube; the neuropediatrician and ISD researcher, Celina Reis; the professor at the Department of Speech Therapy at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Cíntia Azoni; and the psychologist and psychoanalyst with a PhD in Education, Andréia Clara Galvão. 

The debates were initiated by Ricardo Oliveira, who addressed politics, the social model of efficiency and human rights. In the presentation, he mentioned topics related to Science and its connection with Philosophy and the hegemony of the biomedical model focused on Autism. Among the many difficulties experienced in daily life activities by autistic people, Oliveira listed: the lack of normalization of behaviors; the lack of employability; bullying and harassment, the infantilization of autistic people - even those in adulthood -, the failure to adopt inclusive public policies and the violation of human rights. 

For him, giving autonomy to autistic people is an urgent need that encompasses political, social and economic aspects. “This is for parents of autistic people and health and education professionals. The first step is to act against ableism, promoting accessibility and breaking down barriers. Awareness campaign in schools and the media. We need health professionals to follow human rights more and for there to be investment in inclusive education”, he highlighted during his participation in the event promoted by ISD. Ricardo Oliveira's presentation was one of the most praised by in-person and remote participants. 

Then, ISD's neuropediatrician, Celina Reis, presented a history of the evolution of Autism. “It is important to know this history to understand why there is so much stigma surrounding Autism”, he explained. In the lecture, she detailed how studies in relation to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have progressed over time and how Medicine and Science have promoted improvements in the treatment of autistic people.   

The Prof. Dr. Cintia Azoni, who is a speech therapist, presented a lecture on the communication of children with Autism and the role of the professional in the course of treatment. “The role of the speech therapist is to observe the therapeutic environment, the family environment and facilitate communication”, he stressed. This can be done, according to Cíntia Azoni, by observing the environment, and making sure it is as natural as possible; in addition to the interaction of caregivers; image/video records and reports from family members.

The presentations were concluded by psychologist Andréia Clara Galvão, who highlighted the importance of including autistic people in society. “We are all responsible for the inclusion we produce. We are all responsible for the exclusion we produce. It is necessary that, as professionals, we help everyone on the autism spectrum”, he declared. 

Alert

Member of the Autistic Collective of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (CAUFRN), UFRN Science and Technology student, Sandra Sabrina Borges, aged 22, contributed to the debate by warning about aspects neglected by society in relation to autistic people . “There is an underreporting of Autism cases among girls/women. This is notorious. It is important to debate autism so that everyone knows about it, discusses it and does not just focus on children. We, autistic adults, have difficulty recognizing ourselves as autistic because of the late diagnosis. I had the diagnosis finalized last year”, said Sandra Sabrina Borges.

Presentations

For those who missed it or want to watch it again, the lectures are available on the Instituto Santos Dumont (ISD) Youtube Channel.