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Starting Uni

Mants

I'm new here as my 19yr old daughter was diagnosed just a couple of months ago.

She is due to start Uni in just a few weeks. She is moving away. She is crippled with anxiety about it. We have contacted the uni and DSA for support. She has also been on sertraline for a month and a half. Any advice or tips would be really useful! TIA

  • in reply to Paratistastic

    That’s so kind of you, thanks for that white heart

  • Generally speaking, ASD is really well supported in the universities, as it is with all neurodivergent, mental health and physical conditions. Obviously, some unis will be better than others, but upon enrollment your daughter will be invited to a meeting with a student support administrator. They can offer all kinds of reasonable adjustments and academic support... deadline extensions, dedicated note-takers, access to mentoring, quiet/sensory room access, named ND support tutor, etc, etc. Additionally, she can join societies within the uni for her ND and potentially any special interests she may have, if there isn't one she could start one with support and backing from the uni. Honestly, the support she'll get from the uni is the best she'll realistically get at any point in her life. That being said, accommodation and living away from her home may present difficulties, but she should be able to get assistance with that through uni pathways and non-uni organisations in the area. Plus, she'll be learning new life skills which will benefit her for the rest of her life. It can be difficult to ask for help, and the unis recognise this, but of she gets comfortable doing so its yet another essential skill learned.

    Good luck to her.

  • in reply to Nicola Mod

    Thank you so much for the advice. I really appreciate it white heart

  • Hi Mants, and thanks for reaching out to our community!  It's wonderful that your daughter has such a supportive parent and that you've already taken steps to make the transition to university easier for her.

    Starting university, especially moving away from home to do so, is a huge change and can be difficult for anyone to adjust to, let alone an autistic person.  As you mentioned DSA, I am assuming you're in England (apologies if not!) so I'd like to direct you to our page on Starting college or university in England, which covers information on the transition itself as well as a lot of extra resources.

    It may also be helpful to have a look at our page about Disability discrimination in further and higher education, which of course hopefully you won't need, but it is always good to know.

    As well as this, as your daughter is recently diagnosed, you might be interested in our After Diagnosis information, including support for family members, formal support that is available, and more.

    I hope these are helpful to you, and best of luck to your daughter in her time at university!  Please feel free to post again and let us know how things go.