University adaptation and career construction of autistic young people: integrative review

• Grant number: 24/12348-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Human Development Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Aguillera
• Grantee: Sophia Bicudo Passos da Fonseca
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The transition from high school to higher education is marked by several challenges, as it involves changes in several areas: personal, social, family, educational. The need to adapt to the new context is evident, aiming for belonging and academic success, which varies depending on the resources and skills of each student. Interest in the topic is growing with the democratization of access to higher education in Brazil, but it is little explored among specific audiences, such as neurodivergent people, following a broader trend. Although the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been increasing in recent years, only 2% of existing studies on autism research adults and rarely explore issues related to education and career. At the same time, the area of Professional and Career Orientation has been challenged to create more inclusive propositions that are attentive to diversity. Based on these gaps, this integrative literature review aims to analyze the scientific production of the last ten years on university adaptation and career construction of young autistic people, in search of perspectives for intervention, in view of the reformulation of the DSM in 2014. It seeks to verify facilitators and challenges of university adaptation for autistic young people, as well as identifying assistance and/or support initiatives for them in higher education institutions, especially in the entry and transition phases to the job market. This investigation will be based on the PRISMA method. The Eric, PubMed, Scielo, JSTOR and Scopus databases will be consulted, using combinations of descriptors: (autism OR ASD) AND (university OR college) and, subsequently, the same AND (career). Searches will be carried out in Portuguese, English and French.