Barros, Marcus Aurélio de FreitasSilva, Larissa Vitória Costa Lopes da2025-06-172025-06-172025-06-06SILVA, Larissa Vitória Costa Lopes da. A Defensoria Pública como protagonista da tutela coletiva do direito à saúde de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista. Orientador: Marcus Aurélio de Freitas Barros. 2025. Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Graduação) - Curso de Direito, Centro de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 2025.https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/63975This article examines the effectiveness of the right to health for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in͏ the͏ state͏ of͏ Rio͏ Grande͏ do͏Norte,͏ Brazil,͏ with͏a͏focus͏on͏the͏role͏of͏the͏Public͏ Defender’s͏Office͏ in͏collective͏legal͏ actions. Employing a qualitative and exploratory approach based on bibliographic anda documentary research the study first outlines the historical deyelopment of public health in Brazil and the connection between the Unified Health System (SUS) and fundamental rights. It then explores͏the͏legitimacy͏ of͏the͏Public͏ Defender’s͏ Office͏ in͏ collective͏ advocacy,͏ emphasizing its importance in ensuring access to justice and the protection of rights. The local analysis highlights the deficiencies in specialized public services for children with ASD and the alarming governmental neglect which has led to increased͏reliance͏ on͏the͏Public͏ Defender’s͏Office.͏ The͏study͏concludes͏that͏class͏actions͏(Ações͏Civis͏ Públicas)͏are͏an͏ effective legal tool for enforcing social rightspt-BRAttribution 3.0 Brazilhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/br/Direito à saúdeDefensoria PúblicaAção Civil PúblicaTranstorno do Espectro AutistabachelorThesisCIENCIAS SOCIAIS APLICADAS::DIREITO