Supporting Autistic Students on Their Higher Ed Journey

Creating inclusive environments requires strategies that assist and cater to the unique challenges faced by autistic students, wrote Jane Dashwood, library disability support officer at the University of Warwick in the UK, in a Times Higher Education Campus piece. Three areas to consider:

• Workshops and training sessions can educate the university community about autism and dispel common myths and misconceptions. At the University of Warwick, autistic students will host workshops in safe spaces where staff and students can ask questions and share experiences, fostering a culture of understanding and acceptance.
• Clear communication is crucial for autistic students to thrive in a university setting. Besides disability services offices where students can seek guidance and support, colleges can provide written instructions, visual aids and advance notice of changes or disruptions to routines—since many autistic students do best in structured and predictable environments.
• Autistic individuals and groups on campus can offer ideas for ways to facilitate social integration and support networks. Forming additional clubs or interest groups that focus on common hobbies or shared interests can help break down social interaction barriers.

Read the full piece here.