Who is the SC judge who discovered autism at age 47 and participates in sessions with an identification lanyard | Santa Catarina

Alexandre Morais da Rosa, 50 years old, combines his routine as a judge at the Court of Justice of Santa Catarina (TJSC) with the time he dedicates to social media. Since he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), at the age of 47, the judge shares the condition with his followers.

To publicize the topic, he also participates in sessions at the judiciary in Florianópolis with identification lanyard. O accessory is used by autistic people who wish to express their identification (see the image above).

This Tuesday (2), it is Autism Awareness Day. The date came from need to combat prejudice and serious restrictions on the fundamental rights of autistic people. “The fight is to expand the service network, associated with information campaigns and tolerance”, says Rosa.

“If I receive hostile and violent messages on social media, as well as prejudiced and discriminatory comments, including from people who should be informed, imagine the excluded population. Ignorance is the twin sister of intolerance”, he emphasizes.

Substitute judge and member of the 5th Chamber of Public Law, the magistrate received the level 1 TEA report late, after his partner, during the pandemic, started to notice traces, together with a doctor. The diagnosis occurred in June 2021, after 14 consultations and a series of tests with psychiatrists and psychologists.

Rosa was already a judge when he received the news. With the report, you can better understand its own functioning, limitations and possibilities. Naming the peculiarities of adolescence also made life easier, as since then they have had specialized support.

“I was aware of the limitations with noise, small talk, allocating useful time and valuing what matters, leaving aside many inefficient tasks that one does during a short life. I make better use of the resources I have, living only with those I value and admire “, account.

Furthermore, in professional life, Rosa stated that she had improved performance, especially in relation to teamwork. On the internet, when talking about the subject, the judge explained that he received messages from autistic people, fathers, mothers, family members, partners and friends asking for support and recommendations.

“It’s been really cool to help people on this journey,” he said.

The judge is one of the 70 million people diagnosed with ASD in the world, and one of the 2 million only in Brazil, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

O disorder, which is characterized by difficulty in communication and social interaction, has grown in the last decade, according to neuropsychologist Gisele Tridapallil.

According to the specialist, who has worked on the subject for 17 years, adults have sought out her office more frequently in search of an answer and diagnosis. “Now, it’s a subject that is highly publicized, there’s a lot of talk about it, which is different from 10 years ago,” she explained.

It is in the professional’s office that patients undergo assessments to rule out or confirm the diagnosis. According to her, most of those who receive confirmation of ASD feel relieved.

“I hear this often, which is a relief, because the person starts to understand why they are like that, why they have all these differences, why some things are difficult. This speech is quite common in the context of self-knowledge”, he said.

According to the neuropsychologist, when you suspect you know someone with autism without a diagnosis or when you notice traces of neurodivergence in yourselfit is essential to seek professional help to obtain a proper diagnosis and guidance on tests and possible paths to take.

The first step, according to the expert, is see a psychologist or psychiatristas these professionals have the necessary training to carry out complete assessments and provide the appropriate diagnosis.

“The most important message is to convey hope. After the diagnosis, the person may continue to face difficulties, but there are therapies available for adults. Even if the person understands and respects themselves, some difficulties may arise, and there are strategies to deal with them” , said the psychologist.