Supporting students with autism spectrum disorder in higher education

This project targets improvements in support for higher education students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in light of the substantive existing and anticipated future growth of this population, and the failure of existing supports to meet their complex and unique needs. Uniquely, the research extends existing research in disability supports and pedagogical initiatives to explore the design of the built environment as part of a holistic framework of support for students with ASD in higher education. The research draws on a review of published literature combined with a cross-sectional analysis of existing supports in Australian institutions and an in-depth analysis of the experience of students at one Australian university to identify key opportunities and gaps in the provision of support for students with ASD. The key outcomes and recommendations of the research relate to the provision of holistic disability supports, pedagogical innovations, inclusive design solutions and the potential under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for funding to support students with ASD in higher education.