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Support for students with autism spectrum conditions

Autism spectrum conditions

We provide a range of support for autistic students.

We know support needs vary considerably for autistic students and we advise contacting us as early as possible prior to arrival at Exeter, so that individual needs can be discussed.

If you are a prospective student, please read through our Prospective Student webpage and fill out our Prospective Student online form at the earliest opportunity.

If you have any questions, please email us at accessability@exeter.ac.uk or call us on 01392 723880.

Autism Spectrum Community (ASC) Social Group

We run an ASC social group through the academic year, and transition days for students prior to the beginning of each academic year.

 

Transition Days for prospective students

Transition days provide students with an opportunity to become familiar with the University during a quieter period, and prepares them to successfully manage their transition to university. 

Dates and times for Transition Days are confirmed here at the earliest opportunity - please see more information in the orange drop-down below.

 

Setting up support before you start your course

If you have not already done so, we strongly recommend that you fill out our Prospective Student Online Form as soon as possible to give us further information about the support adjustments you may require at Exeter. This can include accommodation needs and academic adjustments:

We also recommend you apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) as soon as you can, as this can give you access to support including assistive technology and software, and regular specialist mentoring sessions. DSA can take up to 14 weeks to be agreed, so it is best to start the application process as soon as possible:

If you have any questions, please get in touch with AccessAbility@exeter.ac.uk.

ASC Transition Day - 2024

The University of Exeter AccessAbility team offers both an online and an in-person transition day for autistic students (including students awaiting diagnostic assessment). 

These events will give you an opportunity to:   

  • Find out what to expect when you arrive at the beginning of term   

  • Meet current students and find out about their experiences   

  • Discover more about the support that will be available to you atExeter   

  • Meet those who will be involved in supporting you e.g. specialist mentors and advisors   

 

On-campus transition event – Monday 1st July 2024 

The on-campus transition event will be held on Monday 1st July at Streatham Campus. Please be aware that limited spaces are available. These will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, and we will keep a reserve list if we reach capacity so that we can notify you if spaces become available. Numbers for our online event will not be capped.   

Attendees will be invited to bring a maximum of one supporter with them if they wish to.  

The provisional agenda is as follows, and we will send further details prior to the event:  

  

09:00 – 09:15: Registration and short introduction   

09:15 – 10:45: Campus tour / accommodation tour 

10:45 – 11:00: Break with refreshments   

11:00 – 11:45: Introduction to the AccessAbility and Wellbeing teams  

11:45 – 12:00: Break   

12:00 – 13:00: Current student question and answer session   

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch break  

14:00 – 15:00: Talk from a Personal Tutor / Academic 

15:00 – 15:15: Break with refreshments  

15:15 – 16:30: Short library talk, and ASC Social Group taster session, or    parent/supporter question and answer session  

  

Light refreshments will be available throughout the day. A lunch voucher will be provided for you and one guest to use in the Market Place shop on campus. You are welcome to bring your own lunch if you would prefer.  

 Members of staff from the AccessAbility team will be present throughout the day, to assist and answer any queries.  

  

Online transition event – Monday 9th September 2024 

Numbers for the online event are unlimited, and we will cover a cut-down version of the same content that is included in the in-person event (see provisional agenda above). You are welcome to attend both the in-person and online event if you wish. We will send a meeting link out to attendees nearer the time to confirm timings. There will be opportunities to ask questions.  

  

  • Introduction to AccessAbility and Wellbeing teams  

  • Talk from a Personal Tutor / Academic 

  • Current Student Question and Answer Session  

  

How to book your place  

Please complete our ASC Transition Day booking form to register your interest. We will aim to contact you within 10 working days to confirm your place or notify you that you've been added to the waiting list.

Please contact us at accessability@exeter.ac.uk in the meantime if you have any questions.

Setting up support for current students

AccessAbility Advisors are the initial point of contact for students. During a meeting, the Advisor will set up an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) explaining reasonable adjustments that might be required, including specific recommendations for teaching and exams. We also liaise closely with academic colleges, the Accommodation Office and other University services, as necessary.

If you are a student with ASC you might benefit from:

  • Regular 1:1 meetings with a specialist mentor
  • Specific arrangements for exams and teaching
  • Support for your specific accommodation requirements, such as an ensuite room
  • 1:1 study skills support from a specialist tutor
  • A support worker to help you access the library or familiarise yourself with your campus
  • Access to assistive technology, including apps that help with organisation and managing the transition to University

Some students may not have a diagnosis of ASC, but suspect that they may have the condition. Those students can make an appointment to see an AccessAbility Adviser to discuss this in confidence. We can explore whether an assessment would be appropriate and can advise of the options for referral and assessment.

Useful links and websites

Books

  • Your Life is Not a Label: A Guide to Living Fully with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome for Parents, Professionals and You! by Jerry Newport.
  • Solutions for Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome: Maximising the Benefits, Minimising the Drawbacks to Achieve Success by Juanita Lovett.
  • Top tips for Asperger students: how to get the most out of university and college by Rosemary Martin