Social work and the right to health for people with autism spectrum disorder: challenges and perspectives

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the intervention of social workers in ensuring the rights of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), considering professional practice within health facilities affiliated with the Unified Health System (SUS) in the municipality of Lages, Santa Catarina. The research is justified by the scarcity of theoretical works addressing the role of Social Work with this population and by the need to contribute to both academic and professional fields. The study is grounded in dialectical historical materialism, with a qualitative, bibliographic, exploratory, and field-based approach. Data collection was carried out through an online questionnaire applied to four social workers and semi-structured interviews with 38 families of individuals with ASD, using content analysis to process the data. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP), under opinion number 5.966.251, in accordance with Resolution No. 510/2016. The results highlight the importance of Social Work in the implementation of public policies aimed at the ASD population, pointing out both professional responsibilities and the challenges faced in daily practice. Furthermore, the families’ perceptions of the social worker's role underscore the relevance of ethical, critical, and human rights-committed practice. It is concluded that, despite legal advances, challenges in the realization of rights persist, requiring interdisciplinary actions and the strengthening of public policies.