Navigating University

The Design and Evaluation of a Holistic Support Programme for Autistic Students in Higher Education

Bibliographic Data

ID22046672
AuthorsCharlotte Brownlow (0000-0001-8497-5021, University of Southern Queensland, corresponding author), Neil I Martin (0000-0002-8843-9290, University of Southern Queensland), Donna-Marie Thompson (Services Australia), Amelia Dowe (University of Tasmania), Ding Abawi (University of Southern Queensland), Jessica Harrison (0000-0001-7888-7906, University of Southern Queensland), Sonja March (0000-0002-2809-6767, University of Southern Queensland)
Year2023
Volume13
Issue5
Pages521
Publication date2023-05-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEducation Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-7102 • E-ISSN: 2227-7102
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/educsci13050521
OpenAlexW4377293924
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

Successfully engaging with university study can be challenging for autistic students and has been highlighted in the research literature as an area of concern. This study sought to address support for autistic students at one Australian university through the development of a bespoke programme called A-Skills. The programme was co-designed with autistic students drawing on principles of self-determination theory and it aimed to develop study and student life skills. This paper presents a longitudinal evaluation of the programme using semi-structured interviews and user engagement metrics from the online platform. Our findings indicated that engagement with the programme varied between individuals but adopting a principle of co-design ensured that the topics of focus were important to the needs of the students it sought to support. Further, interview data suggested both positive sentiment and value towards the initiative amongst participants. Although online delivery enabled choice, there were potential challenges in fostering relatedness, which was addressed to some degree through synchronous online weekly sessions facilitated by an autistic student. Core to the success of A-Skills is the co-design approach as a central principle in the design, development and evaluation of the programme. With continued research and iterative design, the programme could be adopted more widely

Autism · Bespoke · Developmental psychology · Focus group · Medical education · Pedagogy · Sociology · Autism Spectrum Disorder Research · Disability Education and Employment · Family and Disability Support Research · Medicine · Psychology

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