1. Preparation and Tips Higher Education

2. Preparing for Higher Education
Each area must be addressed and student supported to realise that this transition may prove challenging because of,
Increase academic demand
Away from home in new environment
Sleep and eating changes
Identity crises
Changed family dynamic
Financial burdens
Social changes
New people, ideas, expectations
Alcohol and drugs
Sexual identity
Prepare for postgraduate life, career uncertain

3. 3rd Level/Higher Education
The number of students with autism going to university has soared in recent years, growing by more than 200% in five years – and this figure does not include students who haven't disclosed. Research is showing that these students are more vulnerable to dropping out than others. In , 3.5% of students with autism did not complete their course, compared with 2.6% of their course mates. "It's a difficult time for any student but particularly for someone with autism spectrum disorder who is coming into an environment that isn't as structured as previously.“ On the brighter side, a third year student has said, "In school I was bullied quite a bit for being weird, but at university, it's never been an issue. At university, it's the first time I've been able to be open about it [autism]."

4. Some universities, now, offer pre-enrolling students courses on
Cooking a meal
Using public transport,
Teamwork.
Student humour and facial expressions
Asking a tutor for help or clarification
Using pet therapy as a medium for build interpersonal skills
But also offer lecturers training on
giving unambiguous instructions to students,
avoiding last-minute changes to timetables, and
making lecture notes available in advance.

5. Marshal, 2016 Consider Girls
May have dropped out of high school and gone back later, or may have repeated a grade.
May have unfinished or partial degrees, may have many finished degrees, many have Doctorate of PhD level qualifications.
Many have taken longer to achieve their education, as compared to their peers.
May have a history of enrolling and attending university classes, followed by dropping out of classes or semesters. Sometime later, she then re-enrols/attends later on, in life.
A history of deferring exams, not attending classes, dropping out of classes or programmes, is common.
Aspienwomen : Adult Women with Asperger Syndrome. Moving towards a female profile of Asperger Syndrome

6. Consider Girls May have repeated high school or courses OR
Dropped out completely.
A history of many doctors and counsellors visits throughout university life, without any significant improvement
Difficulty taking the same amount of courses or classes as her peers
May
get lost on campus easily,
lose possessions,
be late for classes or exams
Aspienwomen : Adult Women with Asperger Syndrome. Moving towards a female profile of Asperger Syndrome

7. Personal Perspective on the transition to Higher Education
“This did cause me stress and did make me upset. How I managed to avoid a nervous breakdown is testament to my sheer courage and determination to fight on.”
David Nicholson, BA (Hons) Law and Politics, Parliamentary Assistant at UK Parliament, speaking to Parliament

8. Sources of support
Supporting students with Asperger’s Syndrome and other Autistic Spectrum Conditions in the College Environment
haspergers.php
Supporting Students with Asperger’s Syndrome and other Autistic Spectrum Conditions in the 4th Level College Environment withaspergers.php
Both written by Dr. Zehanne Kenny and Declan Treanor,
Dr Kenny had Asperger syndrome

9. DCU, autism friendly university
Adam Harris said,
“The aim of this project is to help students with autism transition to third level and ultimately to independence by creating a more inclusive atmosphere in college, and helping with their transition to employment. 
Working with Dublin City University, we can create a social, commercial, academic and cultural environment which is wholly inclusive.
If we succeed, more people with autism will remain and succeed both at third-level and subsequently in work.”