Supporting Students with Asperger Syndrome

This workshop will provide an insight into how Asperger Syndrome affects students in Higher Education. The information shared will be based on experiences of students from this university who have AS and have been supported by Enabling Services.  Reference will also be made to research and other case studies. Various ways that students can be supported will be explored. This will lead to the consideration of appropriate reasonable adjustments that academic schools can provide.

After the session participants should be able to:

  • Have an awareness of how Asperger Syndrome affects students' study at university
  • Consider what would be a reasonable adjustment for individual students
  • Consider the support an academic tutor can provide for students with Asperger Syndrome
  • Have an awareness of how technology can support the students with Asperger Syndrome
  • Have an awareness of how the Enabling Services (Mentoring) can support students with Asperger Syndrome

Level 2: for teaching staff, personal tutors and supervisors of undergraduate or postgraduate students.

Presented by: Marjory Webber and/or others

Resources

Useful information about Asperger Syndrome:

(in no particular order, updated 12/11/09)

MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information and advice to families of More advanced individuals with Autism, Asperger syndrome, and Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). www.asperger.org

Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (OASIS)  www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger

The Autism Centre at Sheffield Hallam University www.shu.ac.uk/theautismcentre

The National Autistic Society (UK) www.autism.org.uk

Autism Diagnostic Research Centre (University of Southampton). The ADRC is committed to providing an inter-disciplinary service for adults suspected of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder. www.adrc.co.uk

Autism Research Centre. The mission of the ARC is to understand the biomedical causes of autism spectrum conditions, and develop new and validated methods for assessment and intervention. The ARC fosters collaboration between scientists in Cambridge University and outside, to accelerate this mission. www.autismresearchcentre.com

Towards Success in Tertiary Study Asperger's Syndrome. This resource aims to assist students who have Asperger’s Syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and who are studying or intend studying at tertiary level.  http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/edp//policy/success/aspergers.html

There are numerous ‘clips’ on YouTube. Here are some to start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=233-3jtEZck
Understanding AS: A College Professor’s Guide Part 1 is a useful general guide for H.E. staff. Various aspects of the H.E. setting that could affect students with AS are explained.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsgwezeTsQY
This shows a person with AS talking about her experiences and how AS affects her.

NADP Technical Briefings 4/2008
REAL services to assist students who have Asperger syndrome. May 2008.
By Nicola Martin. ISBN: 978-0-9541599-3-1
Published by National Association of Disability Practitioners Ltd
Email to order: admin@nadp-uk.org