AUTISM IN ADOLESCENCE: TRANSFORMATIONS, CHALLENGES AND COMPLEXITIES IN THE EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT

Abstract

This study aims to discuss the complexity of the challenges faced by students with autism during adolescence and the impact of these experiences on their identity construction in the educational context. Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social communication, interaction, and behavior. It is characterized by difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, challenges in social interaction, and repetitive or restricted patterns of behavior. This study employs a qualitative research methodology, based on a review of national and international literature addressing autism, adolescence, ableism, and education. It presents a discussion on adolescence as a crucial phase of human development, marked by numerous physical, hormonal, and emotional transformations. During this period of intense changes marking the transition from
childhood to adulthood, coping with these transformations becomes particularly challenging. In this context, the study highlights how this phase is even more complex for adolescentes with autism. While experiencing the profound transformations of this developmental stage, they must also navigate multiple challenges arising from the stigma associated with disability.The study concludes that these challenges are (re)produced in the educational environment and must, therefore, be made visible and discussed to ensure that these adolescents receive an education that values and respects their uniqueness.