My son with asbergers has just started university and despite getting disability services at university involved the support is totally inadequate. He is feeling isolated, disorientated and anxious after less than a week. Does anyone else have experience of this and strategies to help I him get through this so he can stay to do the course he has worked so hard to get on to?
Before going to see them, look up the university's equal opportunities policy and their disability accessibility policy. Both of these documents can be very revealing, and could give you an argument to follow up that they cannot throw back at you with the comments you've described already.
Equal Opportunities policies are a sore point with me. A lot of universities grabbed at the "over-arching" policy option. This means that a generic statement is made about equal opportunities, and very little is said about individual subsets. So disability ends up with no more said than religion or maternity. This might be why the university concerned is behaving this way. The generic content is so diluted to fit everything that it amounts to nothing at all.
Ideally the equal opportunities policy should address disability specifically and in detail and demonstrate understanding of the issues.
With the disability/accessibility policy, look at whether it starts with the social model of disabuility, and then goes straight in to providing levellers - coloured paper and sans serif text in handouts, extra time in exams. If so the provision is likely to be poor. Ideally you want to see a policy that demonstrates understanding of each of the disabilities they provide for, with a named person who advises them on that disability, and evidence of training.
If both the equal opportunities and disability policies are feeble, look for the mission statement in their about box, usually under vice chancellor's office (may be an introduction by the vice chancellor). If that is weak or lacklustre on equality, tghey aren't a good university.
But knowing their competence may prepare you for how much "bullshit" you get....hope Mods are alright about me using that but it best describes it.
Remember they accepted your son with his disability. It is their responsibility to ascertain his needs and make "reasonable" adjustment - woolly but arguable. The Disability Discrimination Act was clear on this - that the consequuences of having to withdraw from a course and restart elsewhere, because a university failed in its obligations, entitles you to compensation. Unfortunately there have been few test cases so it is a but harder to demand. But the principle is they cannot take on a student with a disability and then come up with excuses and nonsense stories about what they can and cannot do.
Armed with that, you might have more chance of making a good case tomorrow.
Unfortunate that the student mentor was just a campus guide and not a real helper, but that might be down to a poor mentor. Raise that point with them.
In terms of what your son can do, there may be alternative eating arrangements, like buying something to take away to a quiet place, or using facilities where he is staying. The noise levels in student careing is horrendous, and if I had to use student facilities I always found somewhere to sit with a wall or window beside me so the sound comes from one direction.
Depending on what rules have been imposed on the tutors he may be able to come to some arrangement with his academic personal tutor. Technically tutors mustn't do anything without consulting strudent services but the rules do get modified as far as teachers can get away with. The academics can be helpful, as long as your son appreciates their time is precious (having to support lots of students, and prepare teaching materials, and mark, and research)..... But his subject tutors may have experience of supporting students on the spectrum and be able to be more constructive.
Many thanks for taking the time to respond. We have managed to get him an ensuite room in house opposite main halls but goes over to main dining room for meals which as recognised is extremely stressful and he sits by himself unable to approach other students. We did go through disability assessment process and he has a DSA grant to provide suppobut and I took time to go to his university and sit with his support officer and explain his needs- they come back with its not in their remit to address social need but just provide support to ensure academically be is ok. He was provided with student mentor who did tour of campus but then waited outside building while son went for tutorial and once inside he couldn't find room and didn't have courage to go back to ask for guidance so ended up arriving at the end of his tutor meeting and got upset that he had missed it.
i am interested in comment that funding can be directed to other than university services as this may be needed as I feel I have explained clearly his needs but there is no willingness to adapt their standard service to address his particular disabilities.
i am visiting him tomorrow so all those practical suggestions that I can help with I will certainly explore.
I would have advised a pre-meeting with student services and also your son having a tour of university facilities first thing (not the collective tour of the library/student services, computer suite that is imposed on students). He needed a personal opportunity to familiarise with camps before it filled up with students
Key issues are - is he in halls or travelling from home? Does he understand his timetable? Has he access to quiet spaces, to eat and to study and relax? Does he know how to meet other students?
Halls may not be suitable for people on the spectrum. A lot of parents just see the cute little study room with a single bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and sometimes an en suite loo and shower, otherwise shared facilities,. It is more than that. Whether in a flat of 6 to 8 rooms each flat with its kitchen and communal space, or a corridor of twenty rooms with communal kitchen and utility, the problem if you are on the spectrum is whether you can cope in the communal areas. If you cannot then you end of stuck in that little room seeing no-one. And the walls are thin...its not a quiet little refuge, its getting loud sound in all directions.
The timetable is tricky. Each lecture may be with a different body of students - ie he wont tend to have the same classmates. That means getting used to different subject cohorts' different ways of socialising. It is quite hard to adjust to this without autism in the way. He cannot just follow someone who seems to know where to go next.
Quiet spaces are hard to find. Student restaurants are noisy - often piped music (background), big rooms full of tables many people talking at once. If you cannot get into a social group that dine together, you end up looking for a table with other marginals. Libraries may not be quiet - staff shortages usually mean quite a lot of hi-jinks in libraries. Computer terminals may be blaring out music. Some people are constantly talking on their mobiles, sometimes you can hear them half way across the library.
Meeting other students is very difficult if you cannot attach yourself to a group. Its an environment suited to socially adept NTs. There will be a word of mouth network about where people are going to hang out next. If you are on the spectrum you quickly end up in limbo. But some clubs and societies can provide a way out. A chess club might be a means of socialising. There may be a film club...quieter environment.
Universities flourish around the idea of sharing in knowledge (whether that's what you are their to learn, or having fun outside that). If you are on the spectrum that can be difficult.
Also if you are a bit different you will likely get shunned, or isolated or bullied...and there aint no prefects or form teachers around to check.
Hi,
My son also had a dificult few years at Uni, but that was because he managed to get to Uni before he was diagnosed. An astute lecturer noticed his problems and sent him for assessment. Since then, the Uni have kicked in. He got the accademic support he needed, but owing to some anxiety issues he needed councelling support also. This was arranged through the Uni, but it took some time to come through, so if you know support is likely you may have to get him to book early. It maybe that the dept you are talking about doesn't deal with his mental health support issues, but it maybe that another dept does.
It's a difficult time dealing with their support when age and miles are an issue. My son was deeply distressed, but owing to privacy for the student, the Uni couldn't talk to me about specifics. I could only advise them about his depression because he didn't feel able to approach and ask for help.
Thankfully the slow start, progressed and now he's extremely well supported. Finding the level of pastoral care needed varies greatly between Uni's. Do perservere.
He is likely to have wobbly days that's only natural. Assure him that things do get better. Familiarity becomes a leveler of sorts. Try and get him to contact student services if you feel he's not coping.
Keep us posted
Hi
A student's best chance of getting the support they need in and out of classes etc is to apply for Disabled Students Allowances - a proof of disability required and the current affect on learning - so a learning plan from college identifying what support was in place and the challenges faced it useful.
Once Stufdent Finance accept there are needs relating to disability in learning (and connecting with peers on course / group worke etc) they will approve an Assessment of Need - you book this with a regustered centre and at the assessment you need to know what your child needs and what COULD be provided - and this is NOT just what the Uni itself can provide. The student can access a number of providers - the Uni may NOT want to work with external agancies who provide such support (and the NAS does in lots of areas) but they could only argue their case if they feel they could meet the students needs in house.
Some universities are better than others about how they approach support for students with ASD. It is an important thing to consider as well as how good uni is / course wanted etc - but a request for DSA can be actioned at ANYTIME and no tjust before going to UNI.
Hope this helps. Rosalyn
I have been to uni as well as my siblings, all his cousins have so far gone to uni so I know how difficult first few weeks are. I did try to persuade him to stay close to home but the course he wanted to do was 2 hour car journey away. In preparation we went up and looked at all the accommodation and picked what most suited his needs. I went with him to interview with disability services in summer and articulated well on his behalf what his particular needs are. However they say they can only address his academic needs- voice recorder, mind map software and 2 hours looking at academic progress but do nothing to. Support social needs- not even asking others in his boat if they would like to make contact.
Is he the first person in your family to go to University?
How did you prepare him for uni?
Is he staying at home or is he in another town?
