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coping at university

rubyruby

My 18 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed with AS and is about to take A levels and has applied to go to uni. Although the diagnosis was from a psychiatrist he referred her on to a psychologist for assessment, but she wont get an appt for this for a year as they are so busy, which will be too late. I worry about her being able to cope with day to day living as she is not good at planning or thinking about what time it is etc. Can anyone give me any advice please?

Parents

  • Hi I can pass on some advice as my son started at university last year and has a diagnosis of AS, dyslexia & dyspraxia.  

    Just to give you some background on my son.  He applied to a number of universities and was accepted for one on the south coast over a 2 hour drive from home.  

    Although he said that he was up for this challenge and we tried to prepare him for it, he found it difficult and had an epiphany where he decided he couldn't cope in the halls of residence and perhaps after all the course wasn't for him.

    We brought him back home and I tore round all the local universities looking for courses with vacancies that might suit him.  Luckily I found him a place on a course which he could drive to within an hour from home.  The course is also more in line with his interests.  At the moment, having been accepted at the last minute, he is a part time student, but everything is working well so far, he is doing well academically and the university is very supportive.

    My advice would definitely be try and look for a course at a university close to home so that your daughter could remain living with you.  If she adapts well then she could always go into the halls of residence later on.  Even if she says she can cope, be clear in your mind that you think she can, and have a plan B up your sleeve in case things don't work out.

    Contact the support service at the university and nag them incessantly.  The original university my son had a place in had a great service set up for the academic side, but they were not there for him/us when he went into the halls of residence.  Personally I think AS students would be best supported in lodgings like a supported living environment initially.  Halls of residence with rowdy noisy students on freshers weeks are a nightmare for AS students.

    Do apply for the DSA grant and make sure she gets assessed early.  Due to my misunderstanding my son didn't get assessed until after he started at his new university.  There are lots of really good software programmes like mind mapping tools etc which help students organise themselves which you can get as part of the DSA award.  You can also get an allowance towards mentoring to ensure that the student is organised etc.  

    I hope some of this is helpful.

Reply

  • Hi I can pass on some advice as my son started at university last year and has a diagnosis of AS, dyslexia & dyspraxia.  

    Just to give you some background on my son.  He applied to a number of universities and was accepted for one on the south coast over a 2 hour drive from home.  

    Although he said that he was up for this challenge and we tried to prepare him for it, he found it difficult and had an epiphany where he decided he couldn't cope in the halls of residence and perhaps after all the course wasn't for him.

    We brought him back home and I tore round all the local universities looking for courses with vacancies that might suit him.  Luckily I found him a place on a course which he could drive to within an hour from home.  The course is also more in line with his interests.  At the moment, having been accepted at the last minute, he is a part time student, but everything is working well so far, he is doing well academically and the university is very supportive.

    My advice would definitely be try and look for a course at a university close to home so that your daughter could remain living with you.  If she adapts well then she could always go into the halls of residence later on.  Even if she says she can cope, be clear in your mind that you think she can, and have a plan B up your sleeve in case things don't work out.

    Contact the support service at the university and nag them incessantly.  The original university my son had a place in had a great service set up for the academic side, but they were not there for him/us when he went into the halls of residence.  Personally I think AS students would be best supported in lodgings like a supported living environment initially.  Halls of residence with rowdy noisy students on freshers weeks are a nightmare for AS students.

    Do apply for the DSA grant and make sure she gets assessed early.  Due to my misunderstanding my son didn't get assessed until after he started at his new university.  There are lots of really good software programmes like mind mapping tools etc which help students organise themselves which you can get as part of the DSA award.  You can also get an allowance towards mentoring to ensure that the student is organised etc.  

    I hope some of this is helpful.

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