Análise do comportamento aplicada ao autismo e atuação socialmente responsável no Brasil: Questões de gênero, idade, ética e protagonismo autista

One of the evidence-based treatments used in autistic individuals is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which is recognized for its effectiveness and scientific validity. However, many studies with ABA have focused on interventions with children. Thus, the aim of this study is to do an essay problematizing the low number of studies with autistic adults and women, focusing on Brazilian studies, in addition to the tendency to not include autistic individuals in research and intervention decisions. It was found that, in fact, the number of studies in ABA with women and adults is scarce. It was also evidenced that autistic individu-als are not being consulted during planning and evaluation of research and interventions. It is suggested, among other things, the proposition of studies on clinical behavior-analysis in the care of autistic women and adults and the inclusion of autistic people in the choice of research topics, as well as in the definition of goals and in the evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions. Finally, we also suggest that ethics should become a central aspect in courses and discussions on behavior analysis applied to autism.