A percepção da família frente ao tratamento da análise do comportamento aplicada ao autismo (ABA).

Abstract

This research was conducted within the scope of the Graduate Program in Psychology, Professional Master's modality, at the University of Santa Cruz do Sul, in the research line "Social Practices, Organizations, and Culture." Its objective was to understand the experiences and social representations of family members of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) regarding their insertion into Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, in the context of both public and private services. The study adopted a qualitative approach, with focus groups conducted in two institutions, one public and one private, totaling 39 participating family members. Data analysis was theoretically grounded in the Theory of Social Representations, which enabled the comprehension of the meanings attributed by participants to the ABA treatment. For the empirical systematization and categorization of the content, the Content Analysis method proposed by Bardin was employed. This combination revealed that the diagnosis is experienced as an ambiguous event: while it provides clarity, it also generates distress and is associated with emotional overload. Furthermore, symbolic resistance to the practice of ABA was identified, not due to its scientific foundation, but rather because of the ways in which it is introduced and implemented in certain institutional contexts. Elements such as the quality of communication between professionals and families, as well as the organizational stability of the services, proved to be crucial for treatment adherence. As a development of the empirical stage, a public informational and reflective event was held, involving 17 participants, including both family members and professionals. In addition, as a technical product, an informational booklet was prepared for families and professionals, with the aim of democratizing access to information on legal rights and the principles of ABA. It is concluded that, beyond technical efficacy, the effectiveness of interventions requires therapeutic practices that are culturally sensitive, emotionally supportive, and compatible with the lived realities of the families involved.