Autism Friendly Universities

[TheMysteriousJackelope]

My DD will be applying to start university in 2021 to study neuroscience or molecular biology. She is on the autism spectrum, has dyspraxia, some sensory seeking issues, and some fine motor control problems. She knows Sheffield is very good for working with autistic students, but does anyone know if Manchester, Cardiff, or Exeter are equally helpful? Are there other universities she should be thinking of applying to? She would prefer one with a strong research background as she would like to pursue a research based career.

Also look at student accommodation - how many people will she be leaving with? Some student flats have up to 10 people in and she may prefer something smaller than this.
She is doing amazing though to be up for the challenge of university. Molecular biology research is a great career.

How many will she be sharing with

DS has found Lancaster very supportive. They arranged everything he needed.

I'm at Oxford and I have dyspraxia, I've had loads of support since I was diagnosed through the uni support team halfway through first year. Offered more than I needed in fact. Also plenty of people with autism here. We fit in pretty well tbh. The course structure isn't for everyone though.

I struggle at Oxford but it was partly because I was doing a humanities course. We were actively encouraged not to do too many lectures so we had time to study in our rooms. Knowing all the unwritten rules and ways to make friends was much harder without the structure of clases and school. I liked tutorials though and loved following my subject. Mentally I struggled and personally would have preferred structure. You could go most of a week without leaving your room and noone noticing. This was 20 years ago though .

@PineappleUpsideDownCake that sounds miserable, I'm sorry you had that experience. I do languages so a fair amount of self study, but also a structure provided by language classes etc compares to English or History. I struggle without a structure, so I made my own timetable for out of lesson time, with periods in the library etc so I'm not in my room the whole time. My SpLD support tutor also helps me with structuring my work and planning my time to some extent, although I could have more help with that if I chose.

Hi, my DD is just completing year 1 at Durham and they have been amazing. The college system provides a lot of support and she has had access to a lot of pastoral support from the senior tutor in her college. There was a 3 day induction before freshers week when the students with ASD had lectures on different aspects including a talk from a 2nd year student with ASD who was able to talk personally about the challenges she had had. There was also a talk for parents about what the Uni did to support the students. They had a tour around the campus and library and basically were able to meet each other in their own little supportive group before the rest of the students started. Student disability services have been very helpful too.

I realised part way through my course that durham was more set up in a way I would have liked. I basically missed classes/seminars. I had huge lectures or 1-1 tutorials. But again that was my course and a while ago!

A friend's son has had really excellent support at Swansea, they started a few days before and the support has been ongoing.

I have autism and went to Durham. I don't think I would have coped well at a non-collegiate university.

The collegiate system allows for a smaller community within the university, and this really suited me. Being catered meant they I didn't have to think about cooking while trying to adjust to such a huge change. There are senior tutors who 'run' the college, they get to know you, it's a much more intimate experience than I've heard of at other unis. There are both small and large colleges, you can be as involved as you want. You get 'college parents' from higher years who can guide you etc.

Definitely consider it! It was a great experience for me and I loved it there. I felt very supported.

I know someone at Aberystwyth who's doing really well there. His parents thought he'd never be able to live away at uni but he's positively thriving.

I have a relative who had an awful time at Glasgow university with the disability service. The academic side of the university itself she said was fantastic but the support from disability services was woeful unless you fit their predetermined stereotype. I know you’re looking in England but just in case others refer to this thread I felt it worth highlighting.

Bonnes that's interesting to hear. Ds is 16 next week and was only diagnosed with autism last year. At the moment we can't see him being able to go to Uni away from home.

A bit of a side issue but do you know if any of your children are entitled to additional benefits? I imagine if they can manage university they would score quite low for PIP and ESA?

Nottingham is lovely. The campus is all enclosed with everything you need, feels more like a holiday camp and from friends experience’s the support is really good. The hospital is just across the road and the campus is a short journey into the main city.

Uni of Surrey disability services was excellent (although I was there a while ago!).

Had quiet section of halls where we all stayed, started a week earlier than everyone else and did lots of things.

I really struggled and they were so helpful in getting me through.

@DaiJai1066 Nottingham is extremely popular with kids from our town - to the extent that it’s good for those who want to have a ready made friendship group but not if they want to spread their wings.

In terms of the campus, Ds did not like it at all, he felt it was very big and spread out in comparison to Bath. Just shows that visits are really important to get the right fit. But not sure when proper open days will recommence...

@googlepoodle young people with any disability (which includes SLD such as ASD, dyspraxia, dyslexia) can apply for DSA (disability students allowance). They don’t get money as such but are assessed for extra support such as IT equipment, travel assistance and personal assistance. Our experience was superb in that the assessor suggested things that my DD didn’t realise would help.

So she is an international student and you have been abroad for 30 years. I would look at which she can get into starting with the best ones as every one will have good provision if you look carefully for it as the status of the university may help determine what kind of job she can get along with her A level or IB or equivalent grades.

Of those you mention Exeter is probably the best (although I went to Manchester as Durham and Bristol rejected me). Obviously Oxbridge is best and Durham good. 3 of my children went to Bristol, one Nottingham University and my son who did not work as hard to Reading.

She might want to avoid the London ones as that is a bigger city - mine avoided it as we live in outer London and they wanted somewhere new. My sons went to a minority white school ( we are white) and some of their friends picked very good universities but partly based on ensuring there was a reasonable mix - eg my son's best friend went to Warwick which is very good although I think accommodation in years 2 and 3 can be quite far out.

I would recommend a catered hall for year 1 which all mine chose as then you have your routine and structure - eg 2 of mine were in this one in Bristol - www.bristol.ac.uk/accommodation/undergraduate/residences/wills/. Things are quite self contained and calm and there was a free bus service to the university.

Dd has found Exeter very good for autism support

I went to York (a while ago now) it is a lovely campus University. I did think there was good support for disabled students, it is very good for research.

Your DD will be an international student. All U.K. universities have support available but a lot of it is funded through Disabled Students Allowance. This can pay for mentoring support etc. However only home students can get the funding. At all open days ask what they fund for international students. I think Warwick are good in this respect. I know someone who is a support tutor there and he does support international students.

DS found Derby to be excellent for support (Hf ASC, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia and a number of other issues) and mentoring/tutoring. He says is stull very good now, even though he's now at Nottingham doing research. He says Nottingham is also very good!