Entre sons e afetos: a arte como mediadora no desenvolvimento de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA).

Abstract

This work aims to report and analyze the experiences and learnings acquired during the experience as an intern and extensionist in the project “Autism, Art, and Culture” (PAAC), especially in the dance and music workshops, articulating a reflection between Psychology, Art, child development, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), grounded in Historical-Cultural Psychology. The methodology consisted of a bibliographic research on the subject and an experience report of the interventions carried out at the Mundo Circo space in Uberlândia-MG, where free artistic workshops are offered for children and adolescents between 3 and 14 years old, mediated by art educators and a psychology team. Based on Vygotsky's assumptions, especially the concepts of mediation, higher psychological functions, and the Zone of Proximal Development, art is understood as a cultural tool capable of enhancing learning processes, emotional regulation, communication expansion, and social interaction of each participant in the project. The reported experiences show that when inserted into collective contexts and intentionally mediated, artistic practices favor development beyond a pathologizing perspective of diagnosis, highlighting the potential of the individuals. The importance of internship supervision and team mediation is also discussed as fundamental elements for promoting potential development, reaffirming psychology's commitment to inclusive, humanizing practices guided by the unique needs and limits of each child.