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Forced to leave Uni

NAS92890
1 month ago

My 19yo is in their 2nd year at Cambridge, or I should say was at Cambridge as they were forced to leave a couple of weeks ago. They are so upset. They were told they should have asked for more help but their ASD makes reaching out to strangers for help almost impossible. 
My child is quite depressed now they are back at home and it’s really difficult trying to support them. 
Part of me wants to get legal advice as I don’t think the Uni have dealt with this situation well but part of me wants to just help my child to move on and try to start again elsewhere. Does anyone know where I could get advice on what the University’s obligations are towards their ASD students? 

Parents
  • 1 month ago

    Hi, I am so sorry this has happened to your son. It doesn't sound right at all. I did my undergraduate and MPhil in Cambridge, briefly worked in a lab there and am now doing a PhD in Cambridge. I am also autistic. I know the system in Cambridge and have had some very positive and some quite negative experiences too (including with intermission). 

    I've read the comments below- so do I understand correctly that they forced your son to withdraw and said that otherwise they would invoke a 'Fitness to Study' procedure?  

    I think it would be a good idea to also contact the student advice service from Cambridge. This is a service which is independent of the university which offers confidential advice and can help your son explore his options. I've had very good experiences with this service and it might be worth to set up a meeting with them as they are familiar with all the regulations specific to Cambridge. Here is the link https://www.cambridgesu.co.uk/advice/student-advice-service/ 

    Also, did your son have a student support document in place? Has he been in touch with the ADRC? Is his disability and/or autism advisor aware of the situation? I initially only had a disability advisor but they do also have specialised autism advisors. What kind of support has the university put into place for him? Have they made reasonable adjustments? Also does your son have a mentor from the ADRC? 

    I am also puzzled that they forced your son to withdraw rather than at least suggesting he take an intermission with a view to resuming his studies again at a later point? Who made this decision? Was it the college (ie senior tutor and/or director of studies)? 

    I am really saddened by this situation. Because Cambridge can be a really autism friendly environment but the university does need to do it's part to make it work. And they should be doing more to support your son (from what I can tell)- in terms of saying 'he should have asked for more help', that is also unfair. For example, I have a mentor as I am autistic whom I can regularly meet and she for example also makes sure I am fine and has been making sure that I access additional support if necessary. 

    The university also has a counselling service but this may not be specialised enough for an autistic student, in which case the university also ways for students to apply for funding for autism-specific counselling. https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/financial-assistance/crane-fund 

    I have recently started counselling with a therapist who works almost only with neurodivergent individuals (and is late diagnosed autistic himself) and I am hopeful this might help- I've had many negative experiences with counselling in the past but this feels different- it really helps when the counsellor is neurodivergent themself. 

    I really hope you can find a way forward out of this situation. It must be devastating for your son when he has been trying so hard to make it work, has not been given adequate support and has now been rejected by the university. It doesn't sound like the university has done enough to support your son. 

    I would start off by contacting the student advice service (and possibly also get legal advice). 

    You are also welcome to message me privately if you prefer. I am happy to share any inside knowledge about Cambridge that I have if it helps! 

  • 1 month ago in reply to Ann :)

    Thanks Ann, this is all really helpful. I would like to take up your offer of messaging you privately, but I can’t seem to work out how to do so on here! Do I need to send you a friend request? 

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  • 1 month ago in reply to Ann :)

    Thanks Ann, this is all really helpful. I would like to take up your offer of messaging you privately, but I can’t seem to work out how to do so on here! Do I need to send you a friend request? 

Children
  • 1 month ago in reply to NAS92890

    Hi, I have also just tried to figure out how to message and I think we need to send each other a friend request so I have now sent you one. Hopefully we'll be able to message once you have accepted it :).