My 1st post

I have several perspectives on this, as a recently retired university lecturer who was also a disability coordinator, in some cases working closely with students on the spectrum,and being diagnosed with aspergers myself.

Several questions I should ask first:

Did they give you a meeting before enrolment so you could discuss with support staff and course tutors what help was available? They should do this if you ask, but not all universities are pro-active in setting up these meetings. They can help you understand the issues he is dealing with, and it might be worth asking for one now.

What type of student accommodation is he in? Most universities now provide shared flats, self-catering. Some traditional universities have individual study bedrooms with central catering, but these are gradually being superceded. In shared flats it is important he is in with a suitable group - they might be too noisy and partying all the time. On the other hand the traditional room can be very anonymous and isolating for someone who doesn't mix.

Has he got a full DSA, and are you paying additional support? DSA should be adequate for support, but you really need to find out what is being provided. Some universities provide a note-taker, who's primary role is to accompany him to lectures and take lecture notes. Some universities automatically provide counselling tutorials which may not necessarily be appropriate - understanding of ASDs varies.

Is he able to sit in a lecture room and listen to a lecture? Does he have to ask questions or ask for individual tuition? Does he have to sit anywhere special? Are there proximity issues with other students? Does he have any problems with strip lights or humming equipment? Students are expected to sit together in lecture theatres or class-rooms depending on class size, and in first year mostly listen to a lecturer presenting ideas to the whole room. But there may be practical classes or seminars involving two-way exchanges in front of others, including giving presentations in front of others.

Is he doing any laboratory work handling chemicals or equipment which he might be anxious about?  Consider smells, noises, soiling of hands, minor personal risks.

Is his choice of subject matched by the content of the course?  If he is inclined to do only what interests him and disregard anything which bores him he could get into difficulties. Degree courses ask all students to complete certain objectives. Beware of things like pure mathematics (highly theoretical and not necessarily appropriate to having an aptitude for numbers) or computing (which may ask for things he doesn't like doing as much as things he does).

Can he complete an assignment (essay, report, series of calculations, drawing maps or diagrams) or are there things he wont do?

These are the things that need to be sorted before starting a degree course. If you are able to feed me back a few insights I might be able to offer some further pointers.

I have several perspectives on this, as a recently retired university lecturer who was also a disability coordinator, in some cases working closely with students on the spectrum,and being diagnosed with aspergers myself.

Several questions I should ask first:

Did they give you a meeting before enrolment so you could discuss with support staff and course tutors what help was available? They should do this if you ask, but not all universities are pro-active in setting up these meetings. They can help you understand the issues he is dealing with, and it might be worth asking for one now.

What type of student accommodation is he in? Most universities now provide shared flats, self-catering. Some traditional universities have individual study bedrooms with central catering, but these are gradually being superceded. In shared flats it is important he is in with a suitable group - they might be too noisy and partying all the time. On the other hand the traditional room can be very anonymous and isolating for someone who doesn't mix.

Has he got a full DSA, and are you paying additional support? DSA should be adequate for support, but you really need to find out what is being provided. Some universities provide a note-taker, who's primary role is to accompany him to lectures and take lecture notes. Some universities automatically provide counselling tutorials which may not necessarily be appropriate - understanding of ASDs varies.

Is he able to sit in a lecture room and listen to a lecture? Does he have to ask questions or ask for individual tuition? Does he have to sit anywhere special? Are there proximity issues with other students? Does he have any problems with strip lights or humming equipment? Students are expected to sit together in lecture theatres or class-rooms depending on class size, and in first year mostly listen to a lecturer presenting ideas to the whole room. But there may be practical classes or seminars involving two-way exchanges in front of others, including giving presentations in front of others.

Is he doing any laboratory work handling chemicals or equipment which he might be anxious about?  Consider smells, noises, soiling of hands, minor personal risks.

Is his choice of subject matched by the content of the course?  If he is inclined to do only what interests him and disregard anything which bores him he could get into difficulties. Degree courses ask all students to complete certain objectives. Beware of things like pure mathematics (highly theoretical and not necessarily appropriate to having an aptitude for numbers) or computing (which may ask for things he doesn't like doing as much as things he does).

Can he complete an assignment (essay, report, series of calculations, drawing maps or diagrams) or are there things he wont do?

These are the things that need to be sorted before starting a degree course. If you are able to feed me back a few insights I might be able to offer some further pointers.