Users who need support with autistic spectrum disorder
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Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people and the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain areas of difficulty, their condition will affect them in different ways. Asperger syndrome is a form of autism.
- There are over half a million people with autism in the UK
- Over 40% of children with autism have been bullied at school
- Only 15% of adults with autism in the UK are in full-time paid employment’ (The National Autistic Society).
In addition, between 20 and 30% of children with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood (National institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke – Autism Fact Sheet).
A user with autism may need support with communication, organisational and study skills. JISC Techdis resources include:
- Guidance for users on simple ways of adapting resources; for example some users may concentrate more easily on an audio or mind map version of a document than the document itself;
- Guidance on creating engaging learning resources using simple technologies;
- Signposts to free and Open Source software tools that allow alternative ways of presenting information and engaging or assessing learners.
The Autism Education Trust provides a Transition Toolkit free to download. This toolkit offers a summary of the common issues surrounding transition between and within a range of settings for young people on the autism spectrum, as well as a guide to the considerations that should be taken by those supporting them.
The Higher Education Academy UK Physical Sciences Centre provides a comprehensive information pack, Supporting Students with Asperger’s Syndrome, The pack is designed to be flexible, and each component can be used on its own.
