It can present a serious challenge to students in higher education and those providing support, but how exactly does autism affect student learning and behavior?
As Assistive Technology specialists, we at Glean know how important it is for students that classroom environments are as accessible as possible. Getting to grips with the unique challenges students with autism may be experiencing when studying is the first step towards achieving this.
Most people think of autism as a linear spectrum from “mild” to “severe”. In fact, the ‘spectrum’ of autism relates more to how certain aspects affect individuals. As Dr. Stephen Shore put it, ‘when you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism’. What is an issue for one person may not affect someone else.
We thought the best way to illustrate this is through Holly, a fictional student that embodies many of the symptoms of this condition. We wanted to highlight some of the common issues facing students with autism, but we also want to reiterate that each person living with autism has their own unique experience.