ASD student 1st yr - poor support - is this FAIR?

[54isanopendoor]

Ds started his 1st yr at Uni 7 wks ago (Scotland).
He was a direct entry at Yr 2 : no choice as he entered via an HNC.
(the HNC was at a local College & was the 1st yr they'd run it & it turns it it in NO WAY articulates on & lots of stuff he should have covered has not been done. He has gone in with a middle aged friend who did the same courses & has studied at this level before & they are both massively struggling)

He applied via Clearing (both students had to in end as College Tutor refused to do references as 'on strike'). University do not have him listed as a direct entrant so he was not able to take up the 1 week 'College Transition' course pre Uni.

He wasn't Registered properly on their system for nearly 3 weeks (endless phone calls & much frustration from me) so couldn't attend lectures / practicals.
(due to this he also lost the chance of student accom so has a long commute in)
He then had 2 weeks of feeling very overwhelmed. He then got a really bad dose of Covid (we all tested positive for 10 days) during which he lost 10lbs & v ill.

I went in with him yesterday to speak to Student Support & whilst we were there we were able to see his Course Leader / Personal Development Tutor (same person, which isn't ideal). Ds has Autism. He has Dyslexia. He has Clinical Anxiety.

All of which were mentioned on application. He had a DSA assessment which we'd forwarded & he had support arranged & paid via DSA last year at College (although it was never really delivered so he has rather lost faith in the process).
When he gets overwhelmed he tends to 'shut down' & struggles to advocate for himself (speak at all really) so I went along to try to explain / ask for help for him.

Point of long post (sorry)
We were told that 'support can be arranged by Christmas' (via a local ASD charity for 'an hour a week'). Course Leader not terribly interested ('student support will deal with all that' & 'I'm not sure why you are struggling really')

He has been told he can defer his Xmas exams until next July.
OR he can defer the year & start again next Sept (in year 1 or year 2)
And we were told how much the bill will be for attendance so far this year.

I can see that no one can wind the clock back 7 weeks but this seems quite poor.
I think that pushing the exams back is probably a mistake (as how would he resit if he needed to then which he might with no direct teaching?) & he is best to defer to next year but I'm worried he's lost all confidence now & I've lost quite a bit too as they seemed so disinterested & mostly bothered about why it wasn't their fault (I went in saying that I wasn't interested in that, just how to move on)

Could your MP intervene? Hopefully, someone with some knowledge will be along to say if there's been some disability discrimination and how you might access support.

Bloody upsetting for you and your boy.

Poor title really: 'is this FAIR' sounds like a 'waaah! nasty Uni, poor us' post.
but I'm so worried for him & not sure what to advise for the best?
HIs Tutor just seemed puzzled that there was any issue (whilst also agreeing that the pre-recorded lecture & anonymous Qu system which was one of the reasons we chose this Uni 'doesn't work, never has, never will, you couldn't have been told that' (!). Certainly Ds couldnt' approach him if probs with course 'as it's his course & he'd feel like he was complaining & would be in trouble.' So even if he catches up now then there could be problems down the road.

(I did have some good advice earlier in the year which suggested deferring rather than rushing ahead when he wasn't 'ready' but he was very keen last minute as friend from last year was going too & they'd studied together before)

My gut feeling is to defer until next year to give him time to rest & decide what he wants, rather than pushing ahead now.

I remember you being worried about him starting this year. It sounds as if he has had the worst possible start. Missing 4+ weeks for anyone would be tough.

Would he be up for starting again (somewhere else?) next year. Open Days on at the moment could help him commit and getting an unconditional offer early next year would give you time to ensure all support set-up and he's ready from Day 1. My DCs friends who came in from HNC/Ds found the transition courses really useful in highlighting where they were behind.

To me "first year they'd run it" is a red flag for chaos ahead and the strike will have made everything worse. But it usually means the university will be more flexible to iron out problems and try to make things work for students, I am sorry it hasn't worked that way this time.

They've given you a couple of ways forward. I agree that exams in July sounds like a waste of effort and I would also suggest deferring a year and starting again either there or elsewhere - and maybe ask again about a Year 1 start so your DS has time to adjust. Though that might not fly for various reasons to do with funding and course structure. It might be easier to get a Year 1 start if he applies to a different institution who don't have the articulation,.

As for the finance, that is important and you (or DS) really need to talk to the student loans company and to the university administration to sort out the financial implications of restarting the year. The academic tutor wont know all the ins and outs of the finance.

Hi @SandyIrving Yes I remember you were so kind & helpful earlier this summer. I'm gutted that he had the courage to 'go for it' but it's worked out this way (so far) for him. It's really dented his confidence & he's now saying he is 'too stupid for Uni' (he's not, he just needs support & his Tutor seemdc disinterested & the Uni systems / support have made a mess of it so far) I am gutted for him.
I think we agree to a Deferral. And then think if this is the right Uni.
Abertay had offered him an unconditional place. I could call them & ask??
But would he have to apply via UCAS again?

It sounds like he’s had a really rushed start through clearing and then had a bad time with being ill and as a consequence it’s all just collapsed. Rubbish for him.

I agree with PP - conversation with Student Finance to check what’s possible and then if possible, defer and start again next year. Giving a long lead in time to get support and everything in place.

@FlorenceBoot local Tory MP as much use as a chocolate teapot sadly.

@AmaryllisNightAndDay they have given a couple of ways forward it's true.
But there is no support, or real suggestion of it which makes me nervous about continuing at this particular Uni. He's made a few friends he'd be sad to lose but he hates the course & is behind & unsupported so exams in July won't work.
It's really surprising as it's a STEM course & is supposed to be good for Neurodiverse students but we don't seem able to access much timely support.
The Uni is split across 3 sites in a big city. Getting hold of anyone is nightmare.

(Sorry I missed that you're in Scotland) Disability support is often limited at university, certainly compared to school, but where your DS is now doesn't sound helpful or good for him and a fresh start elsewhere with plenty of time to prepare could be a lot better. If you / DS contact Abertay their admissions officers should be able to advise how to apply.

And if he switches I would try to get into Year 1. Each university is a little different, there is usually more prep/support and allowances made for year 1 and by year 2 the expectation is that students have either spent a year getting used to it all or they are resilient and can cope.

Hi, my daughter has ADHD and is in first year at Abertay, they've been great so far!

You can still start at year one after an HNC, that's what I did many moons ago and I'm glad I did. Uni is so very different and I feel that - especially for neurodiverse people - it's good to just find your feet. You can go straight in at year 2 sometimes, but you don't need to.

I would suggest deferring a year at this point I think. He sounds low on confidence and you wouldn't want to O set him up to fail. Not sure what he could do in the meantime though really 🤔

Hi, OP -

I am so sorry for what your DS is going through. There is no excuse for this lack of support.

But I am an academic and former admissions. tutor and theoretically I think it’s fine that the Course Leader is assigned as the PT for DS. I see this as follows: no course is perfect, and a new course is expected to have glitches. The Course Leader is in the best position to iron out the wrinkles quickly. Hence frequently has a high share of SEN students amongst their personal tutees. The idea that students should be reluctant to approach the Course Leader with issues is in theory wrong. No good leader would take issues raised personally, or hold them against students.

But this particular new course has some red flags, provision your DS is owed is lacking — this is serious —- and the suggested alternatives are not great. Also the covid, which was nobody’s fault, complicated everything.

It would be difficult for anyone to feel caught up with everything, especially someone with anxiety. It’s great that your DS has made friends and it would be sad to leave them behind. But I think that his best bet would be to restart next year, preferably in Year 1. I think Year 1 will feel a bit slow and Year 2 will feel a bit fast. It is better for someone with anxiety if things feel a bit slow. Of course if he must go into Y2, he must.

Where to start? Somewhere with a more established programme and a good reputation for SEN support, I think. Best wishes to him

@poetryandwine thanks for your post - it's really helpful to know that being both course leader & the personal development person is not necess an issue.
It was the HNC that was the new course (hence has covered none of what Ds would have covered in Y1 Uni). This Uni course he is on is long established & the SEN provision here is supposed to be good but the Tutor kept saying: 'I cant see why there would be a problem' & I could see Ds just shrinking into his chair. Also, we need to prove he has covid & no advice on how to actually defer. Both Tutor & student support person kept looking at their watches. It felt depressing.
It may well be possible to put good support in now, it's just if it takes up to 10/12 weeks to access then that is too late for Ds as he will be way behind then.

Also, they said he couldn't have Uni accom as a Y2 student (to he'd only be in his 1st yr at the Uni) plus no College transition etc. I can't understand this as he has DLA at a high level & needs a fair amount of support which is obvious. I will email them to see if he could have a room if he started at Y1 (they weren't keen)
He is definately 'university material' he just needs the playing field levelled up. Instead, he's in a bit of a pit at the moment. We will need to dig out way out!

I am sorry I misread the bit about the new course, OP. Yes, in theory it is fine, and can be a benefit, for SEN students to have the Course Leader as their Personal Tutor as I discussed. Please don’t worry about that. However if DS feels that this guy is a poor fit and he decides to re-start, he can ask for someone else. He can just say he wants to make a really fresh start, or something similar.

So the problems were with his HNC and they did not cover all the material? That is an excellent reason to start in Y1. Through no fault of his own, DS may not be prepared for Y2, even though his qualification says he is. This would be a big challenge for anyone. It would be awful for someone with clinical anxiety. Have you explained this problem to the Course Leader?

Could DS give some examples of material his HNC was supposed to cover, but did not? Dies he still have his notes, assignments and learning materials from last year? He wants to tread lightly here unless he is prepared to show his old materials and these back up his claims. It is possible that the Course Leader will check with the College. If the College messed up badly they may not respond truthfully. But materials will win.

As a Y1 student hopefully he would be eligible to live in halls. Again, I think he should consider whether re-starting is best, or whether he would prefer a fresh start elsewhere. Very best wishes

Dies = Does, apology

Well done on him giving it a go with Napier. He must have had a grade A in his HNC so definitely not too stupid for uni. Second year entry is tougher for everyone and with the issues getting access and illness (plus what sounds like a poor HNC experience) then no wonder he is struggling.

I would take him to the Abertay open day early next month and check it out in great detail so he can decide. You might be able to meet with Abertay support at the open day. Abertay might be able to advise on what he could do this year to ensure he doesn't feel swamped (although 1st year entry might make it easier). Other unis might be worth a look if he doesn't fancy Abertay (I've heard good things about CGU and Stirling for ASD students).

Also, they said he couldn't have Uni accom as a Y2 student (to he'd only be in his 1st yr at the Uni) plus no College transition etc. I can't understand this as he has DLA at a high level & needs a fair amount of support which is obvious. I will email them to see if he could have a room if he started at Y1 (they weren't keen)

That seems pretty unhelpful. Do see what Abertay have to offer as well! Calling them to find out and visiting their open day doesn't commit you or DS to doing anything. And they may just be a better fit.

Is it possible for him to transfer to year 1 now at all?

Are there any accommodations that you can ask for directly while they are setting up the more general support? These are often communicated / actioned more quickly.

Sorry that he's had such a rough start.

Many moons ago I did an HNC. I saw it as stand alone because it wasn’t a curriculum set by a degree awarding body - university. I did the course at a Poly, now a uni, but I would not have seen it as best prep for a degree as the topics for the degree were different.

Not being wise after the event, but I’m therefore not entirely sure all HNDs are great prep for a degree without a relevant A level (different in Scotland I know) to bridge the knowledge gaps. I had one and felt I could have got a degree but, as I was working, I decided to go for professional qualifications instead as a part time student. I’m just wondering if the HND was not meant to be suitable prep, just an introduction? How did the HND syllabus match up to the degree modules in y2?

He has my sympathy as nothing seems to have been easy! I would suggest starting again elsewhere and I think he’s been badly treated by his college. No reference is wholly and totally unacceptable. I would use their complaints policy.

So sorry this has happened OP. I'm appalled by the lack of support. I'm a senior academic in a RG university. As well as academic personal tutors etc we have a student support office which deals with students who need support and makes sure tutors and module leaders know what support is needed academically as well as liaising with other provision (seating, keyboards etc). I would definitely move institutions and check their provision in detail. This should have been sorted before he started.

Good luck

@Igmum We did meet Student Support as well as Course Leader/Pers Tutor.

Tbf SS said that they would 'put support in' without waiting for funding but it's 8 weeks in now & his confidence is shot. Why it's taken so long to Register him then make this appt I cannot understand (we've been chasing!). Realistically he will have lost his entire 1st semester of a supposed 'level playing field'.
During the meeting (30mins) it was mostly about what he couldnt have (a laptop as he was given an iPad last year at College - this won't run the software he needs for his course but will run 'brain in hand' so fulfills the funding criteria). So he can apply to rent a laptop from Uni but it's only 5 days at a time & he has to wipe his data. There is a long term rent option but he doesn't qualify as he does qualify for DSA (but not for the laptop he needs as he has an iPad). Frustrating.
He wasn't on any 'direct entry' list so missed the weeks Transition course. Also missed the ASD Transition as 'not on that list' either (!). Next year, he can't get accomodation as he 'won't be a 1st year' (despite living 40miles away) & his 1st yr at Uni. Given he has DLA for mobility as well as care it's very disappointing.

CL/PT just kept saying: 'not sure why there's a problem, these are your options, this is what you owe the Uni £'. Factual, but hardly supportive so not encouraging if he stays here & there are other bumps in future years.

My main problem now is selling this to him as a 'gap year' (to do what?)
rather than a 'I tried Uni & I failed at Uni'. I'm angry (not that it helps) so thank you all for giving me somewhere to vent whilst I try to be upbeat for him. x

That's grim. It's possible that it was because he applied through clearing, I know that a lot of student support is organised months before students arrive so this may be typical of clearing candidates (if so it is rather horrifying). Agree, gap year and get the next place sorted and the support in place long long before term starts.

Push back on the fees if he is in receipt of SAAS funding. Cut off date is 1st December I believe so as long as he has formally left before then he owes nothing.

Honestly OP, do look elsewhere. There's been a stuff-up and he's not had the support he should have had this year but it's very hard to fix quickly. My guess is that the strike and having to go through clearing have massively messed things up, and it will be hard to recover. Even so the university seem surprisingly inflexible e.g. about the laptop and about accommodation.

He'll probably find it easier starting again somewhere else, with plenty of preparation time because he wont be going through clearing, and without a strike going on, and other places may have less pressure on uni accommodation and find it easier to give him a place in a university hall.

Once he's visited a new place the idea of "starting at the new place next year" might be much more appealing than "taking a gap year" especially if they are positive and welcoming when he visits. Is there any chance he could get some part-time work in the meantime to "save up for the laptop he will need for his studies"? Or do some volunteering to get valuable work experience?

@SandyIrving He qualifies for SAAS funding but didn't apply yet (!)
Uni say that SAAS won't fund unless he is in attendance on 1st Dec.
We therefore owe 25% of the course, incr to 50% on 10 Nov so need to make decision well before that.
@AmaryllisNightAndDay Yes. I'm just worried that other Uni's (esp Abertay which he blew off his deferred place for for this mess...) will see him as 'failed'.
Whereas, he actually had zero chance of this working.

But my job is to be positive for him.
I've told him that he has maybe 'dodged a bullet' for Y: 2/3/4 if this is support level. He hated the course so at least he's not going to try to struggle through.