Moving On magazine Careers and Qualifications for School Leavers
The experience that a person with Autism has of the world around them is different to that of a person without Autism. Autism affects how a person relates to and communicates with others. The number of students identified as autistic has risen significantly in recent years, in part because of greater awareness and understanding of the condition, and many universities in response to this are taking positive action to support young people in their transition to university student.
It is recognised that Autistic students are more likely to drop out of university than others due to the totally new situations that they find themselves in. The challenges that arise from entering a new environment can be difficult for most of us, but for a person with an autistic spectrum condition they can be overwhelming.
Some universities have introduced summer school for students with autistic spectrum conditions, where students can get to grips with the practicalities of university life, such as cooking and getting about as well as engaging with group projects, which many autistic students can struggle with.
Others are engaging with animal-assisted learning programmes (pet therapy) as a method of developing interpersonal skills and confidence and some universities may offer quieter halls of residence which can suit the needs of autistic students.
Asperger’s is one form of Autism — a spectrum disorder (ASD), which encompasses a range of conditions characterised by difficulties in social interaction. As such there is no ‘one’ set of signs and symptoms associated with it; Autism affects different people in different ways.
Some of the difficulties that a person with an ASD may experience are:
Communication —a person with an autistic spectrum condition may be very literal, hence ambiguous language or sarcasm may not be understood and engaging in small talk may be difficult. Likewise, difficulties in processing verbal information can make purely spoken lectures problematic.
Social relationship development — struggling to read facial expressions and/ or non-verbal communication together with difficulties grasping social ‘rules’ can make developing social relationships challenging.
Coping with change — Routine and structure can be important to a person with an autistic spectrum condition, therefore any last-minute changes to timetables or arrangements can be very stressful and cause anxiety.
The National Autistic Society provides practical guidance on how best to ensure that students with an autistic spectrum condition succeed.
As a young person with Autism, you would always be encouraged to disclose this information so that the university can support you during your time with them, ensuring that you achieve your potential. For more information visit: www.autism.org.uk
