The Student Room Group

Asperger's at Cambridge

Hi, I am a law applicant to Cam this year, and I was wondering if it wouldn't be too much trouble for some of you to lend me your thoughts/expertise for a while.
Asperger's doesn't normally effect me in my A-level studies, however, I had some considerable difficulties at my interviews, partly because of the way it was arranged (e.g. non verbal cues and frequent use of metaphors, further invigorated by the ever frequent task of trying to interpret draconian and ambiguous statements made by a judges in the 1800's). After that experience, I have some serious worries about whether or not I could (if I get an offer that is ) could cope with the supervision system.
I was just wondering, does anyone know anyone/have experience with Asperger's at Cambridge, if so what kind of support are they offered and how do they cope with issues like those above?

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Reply 1
At the moment there are 7 undergraduates with Asperger's at Cambridge (Source) so I'm sure they have something in place for it.

Might find some stuff in the attachment useful.
Reply 2
If you've been interviewed then all you can do is wait to see whether you get an offer. If you do, they have confidence you'll be able to do your course, Asperger's or not. Cambridge is generally pretty good at looking after its students, so I'd imagine you'd get the support you need :smile: Good luck!
Reply 3
Admonitor
At the moment there are 7 undergraduates with Asperger's at Cambridge (Source) so I'm sure they have something in place for it.

Might find some stuff in the attachment useful.


Well, 7 sounds like an implausibly low number to me! I expect there must be quite a number who have been diagnosed and haven't officially informed the college at any stage.

As with all such things, everyone lies on a scale, and it's fair to say that Cambridge has more than its fair share of those who have social issues, diagnosed or otherwise, ranging from simply being the quiet bookish type, to having various social difficulties.

I would quite confidently claim that Cambridge is about the best place people like this could possibly be, as its a great place to immerse yourself in your subject and all types of people are completely accepted. The small size of the colleges and teaching groups makes them very easily accessible for those who aren't very confident socially, and there should be plenty of support, as has been said.

Hope this reassures you!

Edit: The fact that you're here asking the question also suggests that you won't really struggle if you get in, as the willingness to approach people should be all you need to get any support.
7???!!! Oh please. I know at least two TSR tabs alone who have it. One of them is me! There's certainly a great deal more than 7- I once went to a social group (What, I hear you cry- a social group for Aspies? Surely an oxymoron...) which had about 15 people there.

For what it's worth, I've never had a problem with the supervision system and whilst the Disability Resource Centre did try their best to help, the only useful thing I got from several meetings was to draw spider diagrams. Nowt else, really... There IS a support network in Cambridge, but I just personally didn't find it useful.
Reply 5
FadeToBlackout
7???!!! Oh please. I know at least two TSR tabs alone who have it. One of them is me! There's certainly a great deal more than 7- I once went to a social group (What, I hear you cry- a social group for Aspies? Surely an oxymoron...) which had about 15 people there.

For what it's worth, I've never had a problem with the supervision system and whilst the Disability Resource Centre did try their best to help, the only useful thing I got from several meetings was to draw spider diagrams. Nowt else, really... There IS a support network in Cambridge, but I just personally didn't find it useful.

Huhhhh? James you have Aspergers? :confused:

Ok I'll probably be attacked vigorously for this and this is unrelated to FTB but I think that in many cases people think they have it and they don't. It's a very strange disease, and often I wonder about its legitimacy in any form.
Reply 6
Absolutely -- AS is the new vogue thing to self-diagnose oneself with. Having lived with somebody who had Asperger's for several years it's not hard to tell the cases apart. Many people talk about having traits that are characteristic of AS, but that is a completely different ball game. Whilst there are many contentious theories regarding what AS (and autism more generally) actually are, suffice to say that it's something a bit more radical that merely a tendency to take things literally and being overwhelmed by some social situations.
Adhsur
Huhhhh? James you have Aspergers? :confused:

Ok I'll probably be attacked vigorously for this and this is unrelated to FTB but I think that in many cases people think they have it and they don't. It's a very strange disease, and often I wonder about its legitimacy in any form.


Well, I agree with you to a certain extent, but also keep in mind, that I am not talking about people who have self diagnosed, nor those who has been diagnosed by social workers or school teachers, but Neuropsychiatrists (i.e. people who actually know what they are doing p:smile:.
It's easy to wonder about it's legitimacy, because you may be lead into the false dichotamy of thinking "just because one's social abilities aren't up to far means they have a disorder?". However, this is not the case. There are a variety of other characteristics of asperger's which are far more concpicuous and harmful to functioning in general, such as an almost total lack of empathy and difficulty understanding basic social concepts. This also includes a complete incredulity towards non verbal cues (i.e. body language), as well as social reprocity in general. This is also to coincide with astoundingly repetitive, and strange obessional behaviours typical of austic spectrum disorders.
The problem is, that many stereotypical, well.... Math nerds are diagnosed merely because they fit the profile, and things like this create skepticism about AS in general. However, I have alot of first hand experiance in this, and believe me some people's lives have really been effected by this. I know people who are my age with AS that can barely manage to hold conversations past the "Hi how are you?" stage, much less manage complex interpersonal relationships or an even acceptable social life.
Reply 8
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2007062903 This talks about how there is a higher than average number of students with AS at Cambridge. Therefore, this diagnostic clinic and support service has been set up. If your supervisors were aware and made an effort to be more direct, would that help?
Adhsur
Huhhhh? James you have Aspergers?

Ok I'll probably be attacked vigorously for this and this is unrelated to FTB but I think that in many cases people think they have it and they don't. It's a very strange disease, and often I wonder about its legitimacy in any form.


coldfish
Absolutely -- AS is the new vogue thing to self-diagnose oneself with. Having lived with somebody who had Asperger's for several years it's not hard to tell the cases apart. Many people talk about having traits that are characteristic of AS, but that is a completely different ball game. Whilst there are many contentious theories regarding what AS (and autism more generally) actually are, suffice to say that it's something a bit more radical that merely a tendency to take things literally and being overwhelmed by some social situations.


Yes, I have Aspergers- an unofficial clinical diagnosis, which basically means I know I have it but don't have to declare it whenever I start a job or anything, as I'd be obliged to do if I had an official diagnosis.

Basically, I think that you're interpreting Aspergers far too narrowly. Granted it's not a massive catch-all term for anyone who's a little bit weird, but it's also not limited to just a couple of traits either. It and all other parts of the Autistic Spectrum, together I would imagine with all other neurological conditions, range in "severity" and effect from one person to the other. It affects everyone differently and there is no chart that says, "if you can tick these boxes you have Aspergers", just the case of the more that you conform to, the more likely it is.

My own point of view is that this and other labels are far too restrictive. There can be no boundary fence between them, no saying that this person has Aspergers because of so-and-so, but because this person does so-and-so slightly less, they don't have it. It's grey and blurred around the edges, as IMO it should be.

I don't see how a self-diagnosis can be invalid. Maybe they don't have full-blown Aspergers per se but that doesn't mean they don't have it. It comes in many flavours and strengths, as it were, and so whilst they might not have it as severely, so to speak, as someone else, they may well have a less-severe effect in their case.

All this, though, is splitting hairs to an extent. I don't see Aspergers as a disability or a disease or a problem. All it is, as far as I'm concerned, is a label that helps me- when I choose to use it or think about it- to make sense of why I am the way I am- and, yet, at the same time, doesn't matter. All it is is a label, not a definition. I am completely and utterly myself, I just have this convienient label which explains why I am in many ways what I am. It's just as much a label as, say, "sociable" or "outgoing", just the inverse and not as limited. It's only a name and doesn't define who I am; I'm James, who happens to have AS, not "a person with AS" or "An Autist" or whatever. I'm just me.
Reply 10
FadeToBlackout
Yes, I have Aspergers- an unofficial clinical diagnosis, which basically means I know I have it but don't have to declare it whenever I start a job or anything, as I'd be obliged to do if I had an official diagnosis.


Why would you be obliged to declare it? As far as I know, no one is obliged to declare that they are a disabled person, let along their diagnosis, unless they wish to.
Reply 11
Es*
Why would you be obliged to declare it? As far as I know, no one is obliged to declare that they are a disabled person, let along their diagnosis, unless they wish to.

If it is in your medical records, you are obliged to declare it on forms for things like employment, I believe.
How can you have an unofficial clinical diagnosis? If a doctor is made aware of it, he is obliged to include it in your notes?
Opsimathmo
How can you have an unofficial clinical diagnosis? If a doctor is made aware of it, he is obliged to include it in your notes?


Unofficial clinical diagnosis? ; this seems paradoxil, how can it be clinical and not official?
Reply 14
maybe he just had a quick informal chat to a doctor who was not his own doctor? Or any other myriad ways of not talking to a doctor in a formal setting
Reply 15
FadeToBlackout
Basically, I think that you're interpreting Aspergers far too narrowly. Granted it's not a massive catch-all term for anyone who's a little bit weird, but it's also not limited to just a couple of traits either. It and all other parts of the Autistic Spectrum, together I would imagine with all other neurological conditions, range in "severity" and effect from one person to the other. It affects everyone differently and there is no chart that says, "if you can tick these boxes you have Aspergers", just the case of the more that you conform to, the more likely it is.


I've quoted this bit of your post because I think it's basically representative of what you're saying. All I can say is that I've met /plenty/ of people who fulfill a hell of a lot of the characteristic traits of AS. I'd take a guess that almost everybody on this forum probably has a lot of them, I know that I do. When I compare these people to my ex-stepbrother, however, there's a world of difference.
Admonitor
At the moment there are 7 undergraduates with Asperger's at Cambridge (Source) so I'm sure they have something in place for it.

Might find some stuff in the attachment useful.

I have Asperger's, and I didn't put it down on my UCAS form; so there's at least one person who's not being counted on there. I'd bet a lot more who didn't know they had Asperger's.
coldfish
I've quoted this bit of your post because I think it's basically representative of what you're saying. All I can say is that I've met /plenty/ of people who fulfill a hell of a lot of the characteristic traits of AS. I'd take a guess that almost everybody on this forum probably has a lot of them, I know that I do. When I compare these people to my ex-stepbrother, however, there's a world of difference.

I'm guessing your "ex-step-brother" (I'm not even sure I want to know what that means) wasn't representative of all people suffering from Asperger's, though. It's called the autistic spectrum for a reason - he probably just had it a lot worse than people like me (and I'll admit my Asperger's is very mild, but it still affects me).
Reply 18
generalebriety
"ex-step-brother" (I'm not even sure I want to know what that means)

It means his biological parent's partner (coldfish's step-parent) has a son (coldfish's step-brother) with aspergers. His biological parent is no longer with his step-parent. Hence ex-step-brother. I guess.
Reply 19
Yeah... it's a bit of a weird phrase, but there's no other way of explaining it. His AS wasn't the worst, by a long way. I'm just very very sceptical of people who self-diagnose with mental illnesses.