Autistic Adults
Campuses can be overwhelming, and if you’re stuck studying at home, sitting and staring at a screen all day might not be ideal for your learning style.
Considering you’re bound to face some obstacles, it’s wise to come prepared.
Here are some strategies to boost your chances of succeeding as an autistic student.
Bring a sensory kit
Even for students who aren’t autistic, being in class can be overstimulating at times. Large groups in small spaces, bright lights, loud sounds, and constant socializing can be harsh on the senses. Bringing a sensory kit with you can help.
These kits can include your favourite fidget toys, headphones, gum, calming and mild fragrances, notebooks, sunglasses, earplugs, and more. Having your comfort items ready can be extremely beneficial in a pinch, especially if you need to perform under pressure or need extra stimulus to focus.
You can take it on your way to stressful assignments and exams, or you can just get into the habit of carrying it around as a method of self-soothing.
Ask for time and space
Deadlines can be gruelling in post-secondary school, and if it’s not feasible for you to meet them, it can be worth requesting more time and space. Ask your profs for extensions via email or during office hours if you could benefit from them. Before making your request, you can explain your neurodivergence and unique barriers to thriving under traditional academia. They are often willing to be flexible if you’re doing your best to learn in their class, have a logical explanation, and are clear and polite. And if they say no, at least you tried!
Having a meltdown or being burnt out when you’re supposed to work on a group project isn’t helpful either. Again, communication is key here. If you explain how you’re doing and why you’re struggling with your group, they’ll likely be willing to do some extra work to help you. Maybe you can take on something later when you’re feeling more comfortable.
If you anticipate needing more time to complete an exam, talk to your instructor about it as early as you can. They are more likely to give you what you need when they know you’re just trying to deal with inevitable barriers before they arise rather than making an excuse to cram in more study time.
Take stim breaks
Take stim breaks whenever you need them. Quiet nooks on university campuses are usually great for stimming. If you don’t feel comfortable being seen, try going to the bathroom for a little break or having a supportive, nonjudgmental friend keep you company.
Getting this done before you start your classes is a good idea so you don’t have to stress about where to go when you’re already in a heightened nervous state.
Explore your campus and visit less populated areas to find good spots. Walk around buildings and see if you can find any quiet, private places to sit. And if you can rent study rooms on your campus, those can also be nice spots for stim breaks.
Hit record
Pro tip: Record deadlines in your planner. It’s easy to forget! Keep all your deadlines in one place to ensure you’re not relying on just sound/verbal processing. On a similar note, you can take recordings of class to refer back to if you don’t already have all the materials online.
This can be useful if sitting in a classroom (or at home) and staring at one person talking for hours doesn’t work well for your brain. Going back and rewatching difficult-to-understand parts of the lecture can help you teach yourself the content in a way that will stick.
Get into extra-curricular activities
Feeling isolated from your peers? Missing your special interests? Outside of class, consider getting involved in extracurricular activities focused on the things that fill you with joy.
Clubs could be great if you have the social battery for it! It gives you a pre-determined topic, so you don’t need to worry about how to act and what to say. Plus, they can be a safer space for gushing about your passions.
Having extracurricular activities also looks good to future employers, especially if they’re in your area of study. However, beware of turning all your hobbies into professional development opportunities. Some things should be for fun, even if it’s hard to schedule time for enjoyment. It’s often worth the effort.
To find and join clubs, search “[your university’s name] clubs list.” You’ll likely find everything from art collectives to chess clubs to improv troupes to pottery groups. There might even be something specifically for students with diverse abilities.
Make your first appearance in an open, relaxed mood, and remember that extracurriculars are for fun! Try to enjoy your time there as much as possible; it might really pay off for your mental health.
Connect with the Accessibility Centre
If possible, consider getting support from your school’s accessibility centre. Unfortunately, this is specific to people who can often get diagnoses, but if you can get accommodation, why not make the most of the support available?
When you go into an Accessibility Centre and meet with a member of the staff, they’ll probably need documentation from a qualified medical professional verifying your condition in order to give you support. Diagnoses make this process simple.
Once you’re all set up, you can get help from a teaching assistant while in class, use a personal device instead of taking notes or using school computers, regularly receive private rooms for taking exams, and even access funding support. It can be hugely beneficial.
Here are accessibility services at campuses throughout the province:
- UBC Vancouver
- SFU
- KPU
- Douglas College
- Langara
- UFV
- Okanagan College
- UBC Okanagan
- TRU
- UVic
- Vancouver Island University
- UNBC
If you’re unsure whether or not your accessibility centre can help you, ask! Search up “[your school name] accessibility centre contact” and reach out, preferably using your student email, to get started.
Join an AutismBC group
You can join an AutismBC support group like Getting Together on the Spectrum (GTOTS) to make like-minded friends, connect, and learn. While this isn’t unique to post-secondary students, everyone is welcome, and it’s a wonderful place to share your thoughts and feelings with people who get it.
That can make a world of difference if school is getting to you and you feel alone or frustrated. Having a strong support system is key to thriving in any challenging environment.
Using these tips helped me get through college, even if I didn’t get the results I hoped for. Learning to ask for support paid off, and while I can’t guarantee that for everyone, I sure hope all autistic students are well-supported by their peers, instructors, and university staff on their path through academia.
Do you have strategies and self-care tips for post-secondary success as an autistic student? Contact us!
