Autism, citizenship and public policies: the contradictions between formal equality and material equality

Abstract

In the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul there are approximately 70,045 people with autism spectrum disorder, many of whom depend on the implementation of public policies allowing them to achieve full and effective use of their Brazilian citizenship status. Therefore, this paper investigates Public Policies aimed at this specific group of people and its implications in order to better understand their consequences. In this regard, public policies that attend to people with autism spectrum disorder were investigated, as well as the mismatch between what the law foresees and what the State implements. Finally, this paper used the deductive method, with descriptive qualitative research and literature review, from documentary-legal and bibliographic work.