Autistic Children: And Who Takes Care of the Parents? Proposals and Improvements for Public Policies in Support of Families with Children with ASD

This technological article presents both an analysis and a proposal. The analysis examined preventive and interventionist public policies for families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It aimed to investigate how the diagnosis of a child with ASD changed the lives of the parents, what events occurred when seeking healthcare for their children, and how the necessary adaptations to this new reality took place. As a technological outcome, a guide titled “Aldeia Project” was developed to be presented to public authorities. It proposes improvements to public policies in support of families with children with ASD, with actions to expand support for parents, offering them a dedicated moment to care for their mental and physical health while also providing a space for their child’s specific care during the same period. The “Aldeia Project” aims to complement the public policy initiative for the construction of the first Reference Center for Autism Care in Teresina, Piauí. The study results indicate that parents of children with ASD need continuous support through public policies related to mental health and social well-being.