Introduction: In late adolescence, young people with disabilities live a transition between end of school and adaptation to adulthood. Some activities appear to promote the development of skills that foster the transition to adulthood. Objective: To document the psychosocial effects and the context of activities aiming to support young adults with disabilities. Methods: A literature review was conducted in four databases: PubMed, ERIC, CINAHL and Social Work. Results: A total of 35 articles were selected. Five types of activities were discussed: physical activity, work, recreation, school and music therapy. The activities have an impact on three indicators of general quality of life, self-perception and interpersonal relationships. Conclusion: The activities generally have positive psychosocial effects; however it is important to consider the context of their implementation in order to establish optimal conditions for critical skills development to prepare young people in transition to adult life.