I wanted to create this thread to address an issue I feel is too often overlooked when young people on the spectrum go to university - residential accommodation.
I'll open it with an explanation, and build it up with additional postings. Feel free to contribute, especially with accounts of actual experiences. A picture of student accommodation for people on the spectrum would be most helpful.
The NAS website has a section on Higher Education but barely touches on this important issue. It is under "working with people with autism" -"education" - "educational professionals in further and higher education" - "education - meeting the needs of students in FE and HE".
This page is a list of things to consider. Under "practical and pastoral support" it has "making specific accommodation arrangements". There is little else said on this subject on other pages.
The older universities used to rely on Halls of Residence. These provided breakfast and dinner, usually at set meal times, collectively. Rooms would mostly be single study rooms (occasionally shared rooms), originally with communal toilets and washing facilities. Later such rooms were modified to include an en suite toilet and shower.
I know from going to conferences that these halls varied a lot. Nottingham was ahead in providing toilets, but they were shared between two rooms. I found out the problems because the other room was occupied by someone who didn't want to share it with me, and slipped the bolt across on my side. I had to go wandering during the night to find an alternative outside. I remember seeing Reading University's halls, where toilets, baths and showers opened individually onto a corridor, with just a curtain. Some of these fossils are still in service.
Most universities now use flats of four, six or eight students (or any other permutation). Each has a study room, usually with en suite, but may have several toilets communal. There is a communal kitchen with cooking facilities, fridges, food cupboards, washing machine and drier etc. Problems can arise if people don't share fairly. There may be a central restaurant where you pay a cashier for each meal, or you cook your own food in the shared kitchen.
Otherwise students have to find accommodation in the private sector, such as a house where one of the public rooms becomes a bedroom, there's one communal room, one kitchen, one loo and bath between maybe six students. If there is high demand room sharing is quite common, so these can get quite crowded. You have to deal collectively with a private landlord, and sometimes conditions can be poor. Students often find themselves in a rough area, with special needs housing mixed in, though you can be lucky and find a nice middle class semi to rent.
What is tending to happen especially in the newer universities is that the private sector offers house conversions or purpose built/renovated blocks of flats for students, but the students pay the private sector landlord. These can be less controllable by the university.
Student accommodation may be near the university campus, but in many cases it wont be - there may be a walk or a bus journey. This could be problemmatic on winter nights for vulnerable female students especially.
Noise is always a problem. Students can be loud, brash, drunken (often), unruly. For someone on the spectrum noise can be hell. There may be very little authority present. In the old days there was a resident warden and tutors to maintain discipline (I was a hall of residence tutor for three years as a postgrad - in spite of my weird social skills). Nowadays there may be a manager of many buildings and non-resident tutors with a minimal role.
When students want to party, or have noisy sex, in the room next door to you, it can be difficult. Students clubbing will wander back to their accommodation noisily and oblivious to who they wake up. Worse some students will insist on sharing their hi fi with everyone else. They put their speakers on their window sill, facing outwards, open the window and let blast.
Parents when previewing universities don't be fobbed off with a typical hall bedroom, all done up to look like something that's never going to happen. Arrange to see the sort of accommodation your son or daughter is likely to be put in - not just the bedroom, but the communal arrangements, access and services. Make a stand on getting what looks right and book well ahead. Don't leave it to chance.
Good accommodation is vital to anyone on the spectrum going to university. It is every bit as important as the teaching arrangements and needs just as much care.
The problem is some universities don't extend disability support to accommodation and social support. Establish that every university you visit. If they don't support the student in their accommodation you need to be pro-active in finding out what other options there are. Particularly check whether it is university run or private sector.
I'll try to expand on this shortly. Meantime others' experiences will help build up a picture.
