Starting college tomorrow- worried about bullying!

[Boxingshibes]

My 16 year old youngest is starting college tomorrow.
They are doing a 1 year gcse course as they were homeschooled last year due to bullying.
They are autistic and dyslexic (diagnosed) and v v shy.
They also have a unique dress style ( Japanese lolita)
I'm worried they'll get bullied again.
Unfortunately I'm away for work this week but took them to enrolment last week where they were mute which didn't help.
How can I help them?

I found college to be a much more grown up and uni like environment than school. Don't worry about something that hasn't yet happened...

I do hope so. As they are the youngest i think I still treat them as the baby but they'll be 17 later this year! Unfortunately only 4ft 11 and tiny build so still could pass as 12. Others i saw on the same course were either v glam or 6ft with a beard.

I think all you can do is give it a go. College was a better environment for my DD (had also been bullied, is autistic). Everyone was that little bit more mature. But we worked on the basis that if at any point it stopped working, we’d reassess. That took the pressure off a little. I really hope it goes well for her.

Do they have EHCP due to their autism and dyslexia?

Thanks i hope so too. They are determined to study a niche thing they are vv knowledgeable about at uni but to get there we obviously need gcses and a levels. They know the next 3 years are a necessary evil to get to study what they want.

This worked for my DD at age 11 but she's used it ever since (at uni now).
DD: How do I make friends?
Me: Find the person who's on their own and say hi. Repeat - eventually you'll have a big group round you. Find common interests. Listen because people love to talk about themselves.
TBH I was simply guiding DD's masking so not great but the 'rules' helped her to keep her anxiety at bay until she could find her people.
We're still working on the underlying anxiety.

ECHP- yes we've spoken to additional support and laptops and extra time.