THE INTENSIFIED INVISIBILITY CYCLE AND THE IMPACT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM BECAUSE OF ISOLATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

With the outbreak of COVID-19 around the world and the effective measures adopted to prevent the spread of the disease, such as isolation and social distancing, this study aims to understand the impact of isolation on the health of people with disabilities and their families. Those people with disabilities attend the APAE (Parents and Friends of people with special needs Association) outpatient clinic in the city of Araguari, MG. For this purpose, thirty participants, made up of families comprising children with autism who attend the APAE outpatient clinic, were part of an open interview. The data obtained were grouped into six categories. The results show the need for further research on the subject to verify whether, in other contexts, the scenario is similar. New researches can also be considered relevant, judging by the threat of the invisibility cycle repeating itself, as observed in social practices.