Social Entrepreneurial Initiatives Supporting Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review of Interventions and Outcomes

Abstract

The potential of social entrepreneurship to address persistent social problems through innovative and sustainable solutions has been increasingly recognized in recent decades. While persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to face significant challenges related to social participation and educational and professional integration, there are social entrepreneurs that have developed initiatives to address their needs. This paper aims to identify and map such initiatives in order to emphasize the dimensions of the interventions and their outcomes. Our study is based on a scoping review and analysis of 41 articles published in international databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest and Google Scholar. The findings reveal distinctive features of SEIs targeting people with ASD. Some positive outcomes of social enterprises (SEs) have been identified, including favorable effects on beneficiaries and significant social return on investment (SROI), but most research is limited to short-term results with relatively fragmented presentation of data. Considering the complexity of the issues addressed, further research on the impact of SEs and the extension of studies to long-term outcomes is essential for a better understanding of their sustainable social benefits. This study offers an overview of the existing literature in the area, identifies the gaps, and provides guidance for future research.