Autismo e empreendedorismo no Maranhão: habilidades, oportunidades e desafios de adultos com TEA

Abstract

This dissertation investigated the opportunities and challenges faced by individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who engage in entrepreneurial activities, analyzing their experiences, barriers, and achievements. The study aimed to understand how educational and family backgrounds influence the decision to undertake entrepreneurial ventures, as well as to identify behavioral deficits or excesses that may facilitate or hinder entrepreneurial engagement. This exploratory qualitative research involved ten semi-structured interviews, analyzed using thematic content analysis. Five main categories emerged: diagnosis and educational trajectory; motivations for entrepreneurship; challenges in entrepreneurial practice; facilitating traits attributed to ASD; and the importance of familial and therapeutic support. The findings indicated that late diagnosis and lack of adequate educational support negatively affected participants' academic and professional development. Conversely, entrepreneurship emerged as an alternative to exclusion from the formal labor market, offering greater autonomy, the expression of restricted interests (hyperfocus), and alignment with personal values. The main barriers were related to cognitive rigidity and social interaction difficulties, particularly in contexts of negotiation, management, and customer service. On the other hand, hyperfocus, dedication to specific tasks, and preference for predictable routines stood out as positive differentiators. The study also highlighted the relevance of emotional, familial, and therapeutic support networks in coping with autism-related challenges in the workplace. It is concluded that entrepreneurship represents, for autistic individuals, not only an economic strategy but also a space for subjective affirmation and construction of social belonging, reinforcing the need for inclusive public policies that support accessible and tailored entrepreneurial practices.