Online prototyping for digital skills and career aspiration in adolescents with autism and intellectual disabilities

Abstract This study emphasizes the importance of IT education for adolescents with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, facilitating their integration into STEM professions. Given the limited research on career guidance and employment for this group, a quasi-experiment was conducted with three adolescents who underwent a two-month online prototyping training program aimed at developing software creation skills. The results demonstrated significant improvements in technical competencies and increased engagement in the learning process. A post-training survey indicated that participants preferred IT-related careers. This study provides valuable strategies and technologies for inclusive education and career guidance in IT, offering practical insights for educators and researchers. Furthermore, it addresses the existing knowledge gap regarding effective and sustainable technological interventions in computer education. The findings contribute to the development of future research on career orientation and employment opportunities for adolescents with autism and intellectual disabilities, supporting their inclusion in the digital economy.