Going to uni with autism
Currently in year 12 and about to start doing applications for unis . I want to do English Literature possibly mixed with creative writing. I want to keep in mind what accommodations/help I will be able to get to help me manage autism at uni beyond just extra time and a separate room for any exams I might have. Basically if you’re autistic what uni do you go to and what accommodations do you have/how difficult was it to get them? I plan on asking around on open days but if anyone has any tips/recommendations that would be great. Thanks!
Reply 2
4
Original post by Venus_flytraps
Currently in year 12 and about to start doing applications for unis . I want to do English Literature possibly mixed with creative writing. I want to keep in mind what accommodations/help I will be able to get to help me manage autism at uni beyond just extra time and a separate room for any exams I might have. Basically if you’re autistic what uni do you go to and what accommodations do you have/how difficult was it to get them? I plan on asking around on open days but if anyone has any tips/recommendations that would be great. Thanks!
This isn't really answering your question, but I was worried to put it on my UCAS form and so I didn't, I discussed this in person with some of the admissions teams and from each uni they all seemed very understanding of this, this then allowed a disclosure of the condition 1 on 1, once I had received my offer; this was also met with complete understanding.
Reply 3
University College London (UCL), King's College London, and Imperial College London. These universities have dedicated disability services offices that provide a range of accommodations, including access to assistive technology, note-taking support, and exam accommodations.
Reach out to their disability services offices for specific information and go to their open days if you can
Reach out to their disability services offices for specific information and go to their open days if you can
Reply 4
20
Original post by Noble.x
University College London (UCL), King's College London, and Imperial College London. These universities have dedicated disability services offices that provide a range of accommodations, including access to assistive technology, note-taking support, and exam accommodations.
Reach out to their disability services offices for specific information and go to their open days if you can
Reach out to their disability services offices for specific information and go to their open days if you can
ALL Uni have a Disability Service offering this stuff - it isnt exactly unique to these Unis.
Reply 5
Original post by McGinger
ALL Uni have a Disability Service offering this stuff - it isnt exactly unique to these Unis.
Yh ik that under the equality act they all should but some unis are able to support specific needs more than others
Reply 6
Original post by Venus_flytraps
Currently in year 12 and about to start doing applications for unis . I want to do English Literature possibly mixed with creative writing. I want to keep in mind what accommodations/help I will be able to get to help me manage autism at uni beyond just extra time and a separate room for any exams I might have. Basically if you’re autistic what uni do you go to and what accommodations do you have/how difficult was it to get them? I plan on asking around on open days but if anyone has any tips/recommendations that would be great. Thanks!
Personally I found Disabled Students Allowance very helpful
I got specialist recording software and mindmapping software. The recording software I have found more useful since some of my lecturers appeared to have stopped recording lectures since covid. I also got a specialist study skills person I got from DSA (I had my last session with them this week and it was kinda sad as they've been so helpful over the last 3 years).Anyway aside from basic exam adjustments e.gm separate room/extra time , most uni's should give you a disability advisor type person. Some of the things which were offered to me were using a laptop in exams instead of handwriting (the laptop has no Internet access or anything though obvs), can wear loop earplugs/noise cancelling headphones in exams, do presentations separately just to the people marking the presentation, won't be called on unexpectedly to read aloud in front of everybody, and 5 day extension on coursework(s) if needed.
My advice would probably be definitely contact your academic tutor (standard uni thing as everyone is given one of those) probably at least termly. If you dint like your academic tutor try and find at least 1 staff member within your courses department you feel comfortable talking to if you need help. I basically adopted my academic tutor as my first year one was not v helpful so they allowed me to change
DSA
https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa
Reply 7
Original post by Venus_flytraps
Currently in year 12 and about to start doing applications for unis . I want to do English Literature possibly mixed with creative writing. I want to keep in mind what accommodations/help I will be able to get to help me manage autism at uni beyond just extra time and a separate room for any exams I might have. Basically if you’re autistic what uni do you go to and what accommodations do you have/how difficult was it to get them? I plan on asking around on open days but if anyone has any tips/recommendations that would be great. Thanks!
Hi! I’m an autistic student just finishing my first year of History and English Literature at Edinburgh uni. When you do student finance you have the option to apply for Disabled Students Allowance which is basically funding for things like a personal mentor or special technology for note taking etc and that applies to all unis.
At Edinburgh I have learning adjustments which include a separate room for my exams, extra time for exams and coursework, a smaller class for presentations and my tutors are all asked not to ask me any questions on the spot (I struggle with speaking spontaneously).
For me it was super easy to get adjustments from the university, I just arranged a meeting with the disability and learning service over summer to chat to them but applying for Disabled Students Allowance can sometimes take a while as you have to provide all the documentation and paperwork for your diagnosis.
Also most unis will have an autism support group or a neurodiversity society where you can meet other autistic students, this was so helpful for me during the first few weeks because I could ask older students for help.
Some unis also have transition events specifically for those of us with autism (I missed out on the Edinburgh one because I was too slow to apply for a place but they basically show you round campus and accommodation etc)
Great choice of course by the way ! I love English Literature, one of my special interests is Shakespeare so that makes any module with Shakespeare essays an easy pass for me 🤣
I found that open days can sometimes be quite overwhelming but it’s good to remember that when you do go to uni campus will rarely be as busy and chaotic as on open day so don’t let the crowds and the excitement put you off.
Good luck with your applications and I’m happy to answer any more questions, I know how daunting it is going to uni with autism and I love helping other autistic students and sharing experiences.
I hope that was helpful and sorry if this huge message is too much info, I tend to get excited and infodump when answering questions on here 🙂
Georgia
Reply 8
Original post by Georgee37
Hi! I’m an autistic student just finishing my first year of History and English Literature at Edinburgh uni. When you do student finance you have the option to apply for Disabled Students Allowance which is basically funding for things like a personal mentor or special technology for note taking etc and that applies to all unis.
At Edinburgh I have learning adjustments which include a separate room for my exams, extra time for exams and coursework, a smaller class for presentations and my tutors are all asked not to ask me any questions on the spot (I struggle with speaking spontaneously).
For me it was super easy to get adjustments from the university, I just arranged a meeting with the disability and learning service over summer to chat to them but applying for Disabled Students Allowance can sometimes take a while as you have to provide all the documentation and paperwork for your diagnosis.
Also most unis will have an autism support group or a neurodiversity society where you can meet other autistic students, this was so helpful for me during the first few weeks because I could ask older students for help.
Some unis also have transition events specifically for those of us with autism (I missed out on the Edinburgh one because I was too slow to apply for a place but they basically show you round campus and accommodation etc)
Great choice of course by the way ! I love English Literature, one of my special interests is Shakespeare so that makes any module with Shakespeare essays an easy pass for me 🤣
I found that open days can sometimes be quite overwhelming but it’s good to remember that when you do go to uni campus will rarely be as busy and chaotic as on open day so don’t let the crowds and the excitement put you off.
Good luck with your applications and I’m happy to answer any more questions, I know how daunting it is going to uni with autism and I love helping other autistic students and sharing experiences.
I hope that was helpful and sorry if this huge message is too much info, I tend to get excited and infodump when answering questions on here 🙂
Georgia
At Edinburgh I have learning adjustments which include a separate room for my exams, extra time for exams and coursework, a smaller class for presentations and my tutors are all asked not to ask me any questions on the spot (I struggle with speaking spontaneously).
For me it was super easy to get adjustments from the university, I just arranged a meeting with the disability and learning service over summer to chat to them but applying for Disabled Students Allowance can sometimes take a while as you have to provide all the documentation and paperwork for your diagnosis.
Also most unis will have an autism support group or a neurodiversity society where you can meet other autistic students, this was so helpful for me during the first few weeks because I could ask older students for help.
Some unis also have transition events specifically for those of us with autism (I missed out on the Edinburgh one because I was too slow to apply for a place but they basically show you round campus and accommodation etc)
Great choice of course by the way ! I love English Literature, one of my special interests is Shakespeare so that makes any module with Shakespeare essays an easy pass for me 🤣
I found that open days can sometimes be quite overwhelming but it’s good to remember that when you do go to uni campus will rarely be as busy and chaotic as on open day so don’t let the crowds and the excitement put you off.
Good luck with your applications and I’m happy to answer any more questions, I know how daunting it is going to uni with autism and I love helping other autistic students and sharing experiences.
I hope that was helpful and sorry if this huge message is too much info, I tend to get excited and infodump when answering questions on here 🙂
Georgia
Hi! This totally not too much information it was actually really helpful so thank you so much! Edinburgh is actually big option for me uni wise it’s just a bit of a stretch since the English lit course is A*AA. It honestly never even occurred to me that there would be societies/support groups for autistic/neurodiverse people so thank you for bringing that up. I also really love Shakespeare and part of the reason I’m looking forward to uni is finding more people who share that interest because pretty much all of the Poe Poe I am friends with right now are much more interested in sciences. Anyway, thank you again for all the information.
Venus
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