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Sophia Silva de Mendonça (February 6, 1997) is a Brazilian author. Considered one of the main voices on autism in women in Brazil,[1] Sophia wrote the young adult novel Danielle, Asperger (2016),[2] the journalistic book Neurodivergentes[3] (2019) and hosts the channel Mundo Autista (Autistic World, 2015-present) on YouTube.

Sophia Mendonça
Born (1997-06-02) 2 June 1997 (age 27)
Belo Horizonte, Brasil
OccupationAuthor
Period2015–present
GenreNovel, Journalism
SubjectAutism, Neurodiversity, Literature
Literary movementAutism rights movement
Notable worksMundo Autista

She is also active as an author of biographies, having written the book "Ikeda, um Século de Humanismo (Ikeda, a Century of Humanism, 2020), which chronicles the trajectory of Japanese Soka Gakkai Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda.[4] In 2024, Mendonça created the series of reports "Courtney Love e o Autismo" (Courtney Love and Autism, 2024), which tells the life of singer and actress Courtney Love from the autism's point of view.[5]

Her critically acclaimed book Metamorfoses (Metamorphoses, 2023), the result of his research at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, addresses the experience of being autistic and trans and how this affects communication and sociability between individuals and groups..[6][7][8][9]

Career

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Mendonça was diagnosed with asperger syndrome at the age of 11, which led her to having an interest in the process of socialization and how people communicate with each other. During her years in university studying for a degree in communication, she wrote a blog named Tudo Bem Ser Different (It's Okay To Be Different) and was the host on the University Center of Belo Horizonte weekly radio program Mundo Asperger. She also in her first year wrote her first book over the course of six months titled Outro Olhar – Reflexões de Um Autista (Another Look – Reflections of an Autistic).[10]

Mendonça debuted in fiction with the young adult novel Danielle, Asperger (2016).In his review of the book, journalist Paulo Fortunato noted that the work offers a glimpse into the daily life of an autistic teenager, but can also be interpreted as a narrative about dreams, identity and the search for a place in the world.[2]

She went on to receive a master's degree in communication, territorialities and vulnerabilities from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Her works revolve around autism and neurodiversity, affective and loving accessibility, gender issues, virtual ethnography, communication through digital media and life narratives. She completed a postdoctoral communications degree in March 2022, with her thesis being titled "A interseccionalidade entre autismo e transgeneridade: diálogos afetivos no Twitter" ("The intersectionality between autism and transgenderity: affective dialogues on Twitter").[11][12] The thesis gave rise to the book Metamorfoses, which was defined as "an important compilation on autism, gender diversity and affections".[13]

She continued to conduct journalism work in similar topic areas, founding alongside her mother first the Youtube channel Mundo Autista and then other social media, before creating the newsgroup of the same name in partnership with the news portal UAI.[14][15] In 2023, Mendonça appeared in the documentary series Gêmeas Trans: Uma Nova Vida (Trans Twins), distributed by HBO.[16] In the same year, she began her doctorate in Literature at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel).[17]

Awards

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In 2016, she received the Grande Colar from the Mérito Legislativo government of Belo Horizonte.[18] In 2019, Mendonça received the Boas Práticas (Good Practices) award from Erasmus+, the European Union program for the fields of Education, Training, Youth and Sport for the period 2014 to 2020, with the aim of supporting the implementation of the Agenda European policy for social justice, inclusion, growth and employment.[19]

In 2023, the Mundo Autista channel, hosted by Sophia Mendonça and Selma Sueli Silva, won the Digital Microinfluencers Award, in the people with disabilities category, during the fifth edition of the award, by popular and technical votes.[20]

Personal life

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She only found out she was autistic at the age of 13, two years after she was diagnosed.[21] In 2021 in an interview with the university newspaper for the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Mendonça said that this diagnosis was liberating, but that the biggest "ghost" that accompanied her in life was not autism, but gender dysphoria, which is why she began to feel happier after her gender transition in 2020, since she sees gender expression as a way to communicate primarily with herself.[14] She had gender reassignment surgery in June 2022. Since 2015, she has been a member of Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist organization[22][23]

Bibliography

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  • — (November 19, 2015). Outro Olhar: Reflexões de um Autista [Another Look: Reflections of an Autistic] (in Portuguese). Manduruvá Edição Especiais. p. 68. ISBN 9788591993406.
  • — (September 29, 2016). Danielle, Asperger (in Portuguese). Manduruvá Edição Especiais. p. 72. ISBN 9788591993413.
  • —; Silva, Selma Sueli (September 17, 2018). Dez Anos Depois: Crônicas, Poemas, Artigos e Contos [Ten years later: Chronicles, Poems, Articles and Stories] (in Portuguese). Manduruvá Edição Especiais. p. 97. ISBN 9788591993475.
  • — (March 22, 2019). Neurodivergentes: Autismo na Contemporaneidade [Neurodivergents: Autism in Contemporary Times] (in Portuguese). Manduruvá Edição Especiais. p. 100. ISBN 9788590681434.
  • — (August 24, 2019). Entre Fadas e Bruxos [Between Fairies and Wizards] (in Portuguese). RM Books. p. 14. ISBN 9788590681472.
  • — (February 6, 2020). Ikeda: Um Século de Humanismo [Ikeda: A Century of Humanism] (in Portuguese). RM Books. p. 120. ISBN 9786590182739.
  • —; Romano, Raquel (December 4, 2020). Expressão Criadora [Creative Expression] (in Portuguese). Mundo Asperger. p. 50. ISBN 9786599271601.
  • —; Silva, Selma Sueli (March 8, 2022). Autismo no Feminino: A voz da mulher autista [Autism in Females: The voice of the autistic woman] (in Portuguese). Asperger's World. p. 322. ISBN 9786599271618.
  • —; Silva, Selma Sueli (March 23, 2023). Diversos diálogos: Autismo(s), meios e mediações [Various dialogues: Autism(s), means and mediations] (in Portuguese). Federal University of Minas Gerais. p. 90. ISBN 9786586963489.
  • — (May 10, 2023). Metamorfoses - Autismo e diversidade de gênero [Metamorphoses - Autism and gender diversity] (in Portuguese). Páginas Editora. p. 158. ISBN 9786550792404.
  • — Silva, Selma Sueli (March 08, 2024). Tabus sobre a maternidade atípica e a identidade de gênero: Nem Tudo é o que Parece! [Taboos on atypical motherhood and gender identity: Not everything is what it seems!] (in Portuguese). Juruá Editora. p. 70. ISBN 9786526310199.

Filmography

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Year Title Notes Ref.
2015-2017 Mundo Asperger Host [24]
2015-present Mundo Autista Host [25]
2019 Para Sempre Arte Host [26]
2019-2021 Introvertendo Recurring role [27]
2020 Brasil das Gerais Guest [28]
2020 De Brincadeira Host [29]
2021 AutWork Director [30]
2022 Amores (a)Típicos Host [31]
2022 Vozes da Maturidade Host [32]
2022 Espectros Guest [33]
2022 Dazumana: Ciência Sem Jaleco Guest [34]
2022 TransParente Host [35]
2022-present Mundo Autista D&I Host [36]
2023 Desvendando Mitos e Verdades sobre o Autismo Host [37]
2023 Gêmeas Trans: Uma Nova Vida Recurring role [38]
2024 Courtney Love e o Autismo Creator and Host [5]

References

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  1. ^ redacaonos. "Conheça mãe e filha que são a voz do autismo feminino no Brasil". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  2. ^ a b "Danielle: A Jornada de Uma Adolescente com Autismo". apaecuritiba.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  3. ^ espculturadoria (2019-03-20). "Autismo na contemporaneidade é tema de novo livro". Culturadoria (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  4. ^ "Tributo a Daisaku Ikeda". January 2024.
  5. ^ a b Mendonça, Sophia (2024-07-13). "Dia Mundial do Rock: Canal Autismo e Mundo Autista lançarão série sobre Courtney Love e o autismo". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  6. ^ Cruz, Márcia Maria (10 February 2022). "Pesquisadora da UFMG apresenta histórias de trans e autistas como ela" [UFMG researcher presents stories of trans and autistic people like her]. Estado de Minas (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  7. ^ Morosini, Liseane (1 August 2022). ""A Transgeneridade Complexifica A Condicao De Ser Autista"" ["Transgenderness Complicates The Condition Of Being Autistic"]. Radis Magazine (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. ^ Ries, Igor Lucas (2023). "Somos Autistas": uma cartografia afetiva de enunciados de neurodivergentes no Instagram (tese). Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  9. ^ Dias, Juarez (25 February 2024). "Análise: Livro Metamorfoses – autismo e diversidade de gênero".
  10. ^ Duarte, Elemara (November 19, 2015). "Estudante revela seu fascinante mundo autista" [Student reveals his fascinating autistic world]. Hoje em Dia [pt] (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  11. ^ Cruz, Márcia Maria (February 10, 2022). "Pesquisadora da UFMG apresenta histórias de trans e autistas como ela" [UFMG researcher presents stories of trans and autistic people like her]. Estado de Minas (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Morosini, Liseane (August 1, 2022). ""A Transgeneridade Complexifica A Condicao De Ser Autista"" ["Transgenderness Complicates The Condition Of Being Autistic"]. Radis Magazine (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Pessoa, Sônia (25 February 2024). "Professora da UFMG comenta obra de Sophia Mendonça".
  14. ^ a b Rabelo, Sarah (29 April 2021). "Sophia Mendonça: "Meu maior fantasma não foi o autismo, foi ser transgênero"" [Sophia Mendonça: “My biggest ghost wasn’t autism, it was being transgender”]. blogfca.pucminas.br (in Portuguese). Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais.
  15. ^ Caixeta, Izabella (July 22, 2022). "Conheça Selma e Sophia: mãe e filha no espectro autista" [Meet Selma and Sophia: mother and daughter on the autism spectrum]. Estado de Minas (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Jr, Francisco Paiva (2023-06-10). "Sophia Mendonça participa de série documental na HBO e Discovery". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  17. ^ https://wp.ufpel.edu.br/ppgl/files/2023/07/Edital-111-2023-2-Fase-Final.pdf
  18. ^ "Saulo Carvalho Diretor-Geral: Comunicado". Diário Oficial do Município de Belo Horizonte (in Portuguese). December 8, 2016. p. 23. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  19. ^ "Autista, de 22 anos, é aprovado no Mestrado em Comunicação Social da UFMG". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2019-10-29. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  20. ^ Redação, Da (2023-02-09). "5º Prêmio Microinfluenciadores Digitais: confira os (as) vencedores (as)". Portal da Comunicação (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  21. ^ Manreza, Roberta (2016-11-24). "Mãe e filho compartilham experiências sobre a Síndrome de Asperger. Conheça a história do Victor e da Selma". Papo de Mãe (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  22. ^ Morosini, Liseane (August 1, 2022). "Autistas Na Rede" [Autistic People Online]. Radis Magazine (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  23. ^ "Mundo Autista faz série sobre redesignação sexual". Canal Autismo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-09-07. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  24. ^ "Estudante revela seu fascinante mundo autista". Hoje em Dia (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  25. ^ redacaonos. "Conheça mãe e filha que são a voz do autismo feminino no Brasil". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  26. ^ "Victor Mendonça estreia novo programa sobre cultura na Webrádio Mineiríssima". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  27. ^ "Autistas adultos contam como tem sido a quarentena". Canal Autismo. 2020-05-18. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  28. ^ Inclusão é o tema do Brasil das Gerais | Brasil das Gerais | TV Brasil | Cidadania (in Brazilian Portuguese), 2020-02-05, retrieved 2023-11-20
  29. ^ "Escritora autista e arteeducadora debatem o papel da arte em novo livro". Canal Autismo. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  30. ^ "Dirigido por Sophia Mendonça e Selma Sueli Silva, documentário 'AutWork' é selecionado para festival no Reino Unido". Canal Autismo. 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  31. ^ "Sophia Mendonça completa 25 anos; conheça a trajetória da youtuber do "Mundo Autista"". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-02-06. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  32. ^ paiva (2022-06-25). "Podcast discute autismo na terceira idade: 'Vozes da Maturidade'". Tismoo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  33. ^ "Sophia Mendonça fala de gênero, comunicação e internet no podcast 'Espectros'". Canal Autismo. 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  34. ^ "Ep. 04". dazumana.com. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  35. ^ "'É preciso que a gente aprenda a ser pai e mãe', diz Selma Sueli Silva". Canal Autismo. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  36. ^ "Além do Introvertendo, conheça outros 10 podcasts feitos por autistas". Canal Autismo. 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  37. ^ "Shopping em Belo Horizonte lança série de vídeos sobre o autismo". Canal Autismo. 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  38. ^ Jr, Francisco Paiva (2023-06-10). "Sophia Mendonça participa de série documental na HBO e Discovery". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2023-11-12.