Author Archives: Helena Fietz

Ph.D. candidate in social anthropology at UFRGS/Brazil. Holds an MA in Social Anthropology from the same university and a BA in law from PUCRS/Brazil. My current research explores familial care practices for adults with intellectual disabilities in Brazil and was funded by CAPES.
Foto aérea do Paço da Prefeitura, na zona central da cidade de Porto Alegre cujo foco é prédio da prefeitura de Porto Alegre, construído em 1901 e a praça e o chafariz que ficam a sua frente. Há altos prédios a sua volta. Pessoas caminham nas ruas e a sua volta e há diversos carros estacionados. Ao fundo, o Rio Guaíba aparece no Horizonte.

The Paradox of Autonomy and Care for Mothers of Adults with Disabilities in Brazil

Since the early 2000s, Brazil has experienced a significant change concerning the rights of people with disabilities in the country. Based on the struggles of the Brazilian Disability Rights Movements, in 2009 the country promulgated the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) and in 2015 enacted the Brazilian Inclusion Law, also known as the Statute of People with Disabilities. The promotion of autonomy and the social participation of people with disabilities is at the core of these legislations. While these measures are not always accompanied by policies that can actually guarantee their implementation, they still impact people with disabilities in the way they foster such discourses around autonomy and independence. (read more...)