Autism

Overview of autism

Around one in 100 people have autism. It is often found alongside SpLDs such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD. Autism typically involves challenges with:  

• social interaction and communication 
• restricted and repetitive interests 
• sensory overload 
• anxiety. 

There are also many positives associated with autism, including: 

• deep focus and attention to detail 
• good analytical skills and ability to spot patterns 
• creative, innovative thinking 
• integrity, determination and tolerance. 

Common challenges faced by students with autism

• Learning information which is not explicitly taught.  
• Transferring skills and knowledge from one situation to another.  
• Picking up unwritten social rules when interacting with tutors and peers. 
• Difficulty interpreting ambiguous and open assignment briefs correctly. 
• Uncertainty about how to plan studies or how long to spend on a given task. 
• The social skills necessary for group work, such as turn taking and negotiation.  
• Last minute changes to schedules or plans.  
• Difficulty tolerating background noise, lighting, crowding and other sensory elements.  

Find out more

• The positives of autism - University of Leeds (pdf infographic).
• Falmouth Exeter Plus Autism & Uni toolkit (webpages).
• Coping - a Survival Guide for People with Asperger Syndrome (webpages).
• Autism 101 - Spectrum (webpages).

Support group

'The Social Connection' is a student-led Instagram community for neuro-diverse, shy or just socially-anxious Falmouth and Exeter students who want to connect with others.