Selma Sueli Silva (September 17, 1963) is a Brazilian journalist, writer and radio personality. She is the creator of the digital portal O Mundo Autista (2015–present) and co-host of programs and podcasts such as Rádio Vivo (radio program, 1999–2015), Mundo Autista D&I (2015–present), and Boas de Conversa (2026–present). Among her notable books are the autobiography Minha vida de trás para Frente (2017), the journalistic book Camaleônicos (2019), and the anthology Autismo no Feminino (2022).
Career Silva worked as a producer and presenter on several radio stations in Minas Gerais, where it is estimated that she reached a large audience. In an earlier period of her career, she also worked as a chief advisor at INSS/MG. She also works as a podcaster, addressing themes as autism in elderly people and motherhood on autism. In 2025, she began her master's degree in Literature at Federal University of Pelotas.
Selma Sueli Silva is recognized for being one of the creators of the portal "O Mundo Autista", launched in 2015, which has become a relevant digital platform with content created by people within the autistic spectrum in Brazil.https://www.em.com.br/app/noticia/bem-viver/2019/10/11/interna_bem_viver%2C1091653. "O Mundo Autista" explores the subjects of behavior and literature, with a specific focus on adults on the autism spectrum.
In "Minha vida de trás para Frente" ("My Life Backwards", 2017), her autobiography, Selma recounts the rediscovery of her own history after being diagnosed with autism at age 53. By revisiting her life, the author realizes that the signs of autism were always present. The book explores different phases of Selma's life: from her childhood and adolescence, where she felt afraid of displeasing others due to her naivety and "non-standard" personality, to her career in radio, where she won over listeners with her professional confidence and humanist ideals. In the 2019 book-report "Camaleônicos" ("Chameleonics", 2019), Selma blends theory, personal accounts, and interviews to build a comprehensive overview of life on the autism spectrum. The book addresses sensory and communication challenges as well as the unique talents and perspectives of each person, showcasing the diversity within the Autistic Spectrum.
Her other literary credits include the collection "Autismo no Feminino" ("Autism in Females," 2022) and the memoir and essay book "Diversos Diálogos" ("Diverse Dialogues", 2022), co-written with Sophia Mendonça. In fiction, she wrote the psychological horror novel "Nem Tudo é o que Parece" ("Not Everything is What It Seems," 2024). The work tackles taboos surrounding atypical motherhood and issues related to gender identity, exploring the complexities of family relationships and the journey of acceptance and overcoming challenges related to neurodevelopment and Borderline Personality Disorder.
Reception The literary work of Selma Sueli Silva has been the subject of academic analysis, particularly regarding the narratives of autistic women. In 2024, an article published in the Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental analyzed the book My Life Backwards, associating it with themes such as self-knowledge, acceptance, the building of family relationships, and the identification between mothers and autistic children. Researcher Flávia Lomba Costa cites this same work as a representative example of the growing autobiographical production of autistic women in Brazil. Costa also highlights the book Chameleonics, describing it as a collection of accounts and experiences from men and women on the spectrum, structured in a journalistic format.https://dissertacao.estacio.br/educacao/2020/4683846_flavia-costa_disserta%C3%A7%C3%A3o_vers%C3%A3o-final.pdf
Researcher Tatiana Apolinário Camurça from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) highlighted the work My Life Backwards in discussions regarding masking and conformity to social norms. The analysis was based on the author's accounts of her difficulties interacting in group settings. In 2024, the book Chameleonics was part of the corpus of a master's thesis in Psychology at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), which investigated the construction of autistic and neurodivergent identity. In the research conducted by Távina Romão Silva, the work was among the three selected for the main analysis. The study used the narratives present in the book to discuss themes such as the repercussions of the diagnosis, the neurodiversity paradigm, and the consolidation of identity on the spectrum.
In an analysis of Diverse Dialogues, psychologist and professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Maria Luísa Magalhães Nogueira, highlighted that the narrative written by the duo innovates by transforming the traditional post-diagnostic "grief" process into a stage of "affirmation" of differences. The specialist points out that the work practically illustrates the "double empathy problem," a concept coined by sociologist Damien Milton, evidencing that the socio-communicational challenges of autism are a two-way street. According to Nogueira, the book demonstrates that inclusion requires a change in attitude and language by neurotypical individuals as well, rather than being an exclusive problem of the autistic person. She concludes that the account serves as an invitation for society to deconstruct normalizing barriers and assume a collective responsibility for coexistence in shared spaces. Diverse Dialogues has also been utilized in discussions concerning disability, neurodiversity, and sensory crises, including the relationship between environmental overload, accessibility, and the well-being of autistic individuals.https://repositorio.ifsp.edu.br/server/api/core/bitstreams/74fa9ce8-0a60-4931-afe4-29edab2c7901/content
Jabuti Prize-winning author Leo Cunha commented on the semi-autobiographical nature of Not Everything is What It Seems. In his analysis, Cunha praised the human depth of the protagonists, noting that, although they are portrayed as strong and determined women, they also exhibit flaws, mistakes, and regrets, which adds verisimilitude to the work. Regarding the reading experience, the author argues that the audience's focus should not be on trying to distinguish what is memory from what is invention. Instead, he suggests that the reader act as a witness to the story, turning their attention to the "lights and shadows" presented by the narrative.
Impact In 2025, Silva was honored as one of the featured figures in the educational material and game Brilliant Minds: Neurodivergent Women, published by the Brazilian Computer Society (SBC), which highlights her work as a communicator and her twice-exceptionality (autism spectrum disorder and giftedness).http://almanaquesdacomputacao.com.br/gutanunes/publications/S16V12.pdf
Awards In 2023, the Mundo Autista channel, hosted by Silva and Sophia Mendonça, won the Digital Microinfluencers Award, in the people with disabilities category, during the fifth edition of the award, by popular and technical votes.
Personal life Selma Sueli Silva is the mother of Sophia Mendonça, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at age 11. Early in Sophia's childhood, Silva noticed some signs of autism, such as head-banging, hyperfocus, and advanced intelligence. When Sophia received her diagnosis, Silva’s journalist husband struggled to accept it. He was suffering from severe depression at the time and filed for divorce in 2008. As a result, Silva took on the full responsibility of caring for her daughter, including managing her schedule, treatment costs, and emotional well-being, as well as making necessary routine adjustments.
In 2016, Silva received her own ASD diagnosis. Inspired by her personal journey, she began sharing her experiences and insights about autism through writing and digital platforms.
She is a Nichiren Buddhist.
Works
Books Minha vida de trás para Frente (2017) Dez anos Depois (2018) Camaleõnicos (2019) Autismo no Feminino (2022) Diversos Diálogos (2022) Nem Tudo é o que Parece (2024)
Podcasts YearTitlePainelistNotes1999-2015Rádio Vivohttps://arquivo.fmu.br/prodisc/servicosocial/vbs.pdfPanelist, Co-host2015VariedadesPanelist2015-2016Em Boa CompanhiaHost2015-presentMundo Autista D&ICo-hostwith Sophia Mendonça2017-2018Manhã SuperPanelist2019Qual é a sua vida?Panelist2019-2020IntrovertendoPanelist, Reporter2020InteressaHost2021Saída de EmergênciaPanelist2022Vozes da MaturidadeCo-hostwith Sophia Mendonça2022Conexõeshttps://www3.ufmg.br/comunicacao/noticias/abril-azul-autismo-do-ponto-de-vista-das-mulheres-e-tematizado-no-conexoesPanelist2022TransParenteCo-hostwith Sophia Mendonça2023HumanistasPanelist2023DesteriorizaPanelist2026-presentBoas de ConversaCo-hostwith Sophia Mendonça
References