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Grateful to my co-authors for their contributions: Liz Pellicano, @torihaar.bsky.social, Lara Hardy, Marion Rabuka #neurodiversity #highered

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3️⃣ Fostering an enabling environment – Practical ways universities can provide better support. 4️⃣ Building a sense of belonging – The importance of meaningful connections and acceptance. Based on these findings, we proposed 10 recommendations (see info-graphic)

This is an infographic of the 10 recommendations from the paper:
1) Neurodiversity training for staff and students
2) Sensory-friendly spaces
3) Actively promote support services
4) Develop university transition programs
5) Streamline and demystify university processes
6) Flexible teaching and communication options
7) Celebrate neurodiversity
8) Trauma-informed practice
9) Relationship building
10) Embracing participatory approaches

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1️⃣ “Fight[ing] really hard to get through” – The immense challenges Autistic students face. 2️⃣ “[Taking] a lot longer to try to make sense of the system” – The difficulty of navigating university structures.

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“Seeing the Value of Who We Are”: Understanding and Supporting Autistic University Students | Autism in Adulthood

📢 New publication alert: doi.org/10.1089/aut.... Our team of Autistic & non-autistic researchers ran a qualitative study to explore how universities can create conditions that truly support Autistic students. We interviewed 21 Autistic adults across Australia and identified four key themes: 🧵

doi.org

Background: The number of autistic students enrolling in universities is increasing, yet many of them face significant challenges in navigating academic, social, and environmental demands. Existing re...

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Thank you to colleagues for this fun collab: @thesiswhisperer.bsky.social @drchrised.bsky.social Charlotte Brownlow, Kate Simpson, & Amanda Webster

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Academia must move beyond performative inclusion. This means systemic shifts: flexible workspaces, tailored supports, supervisor training, and cultural change to reduce stigma. #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #HigherEd

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8️⃣ Embracing neurodivergence Despite challenges, many neurodivergent students embrace their strengths. The path to self-acceptance in academia is complex but empowering. While rare, some find spaces where neurotypical norms aren’t assumed, allowing them to be authentic, excel, and enjoy their work.

7️⃣ Mental Health & Wellbeing High workloads, poor work-life balance, and lack of support contribute to burnout and distress. While self-advocacy helps, it often comes at a personal cost.

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6️⃣ Ableism & Disclosure Many students fear that disclosing their neurodivergence will lead to discrimination, loss of opportunities, or negative perceptions. Internalised ableism further discourages them from seeking support.

5️⃣ Relationships with Others Supportive peers and supervisors create a sense of belonging, but mismatched expectations can lead to misunderstandings. Networking remains difficult, impacting access to opportunities and the hidden curriculum.

4️⃣ Lack of Appropriate Supports Many students struggle to access or even identify the accommodations they need. When available, supports are often generic and fail to account for individual needs. Stigma and bureaucratic delays further discourage help-seeking.

3️⃣ Executive Functioning Strengths like hyperfocus, creativity, and problem-solving shine in research. However, time blindness, switching tasks, and overcommitting can create challenges, requiring extensive self-management strategies.

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2️⃣ Sensory & Environmental Challenges Open-plan offices, hot-desking, and unregulated communication can be overwhelming. While flexible working options help, some disciplines (e.g., wet lab/field research) still require inaccessible environments.

1️⃣ Academic Cultures & Expectations Many neurodivergent students struggle with academia’s implicit norms, perfectionism, and overwork culture. Rigid bureaucratic processes and social communication expectations (e.g., vivas, networking) create additional barriers.

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