Visiting University Open Days with Neurodivergent Young People

• What basic support is provided for neurodivergent students?
• Do you help with DSA applications?
• Do you deliver DSA-funded mentor support internally or use an external company?
• Is there a “transition to University” preparation course held, either residential, as an early start or online? (a great idea!)
• Is there a regular neurodivergent meeting, drop in session or social club organised to meet other students?
• What evidence do you need for support and when should I sent it to you?
• What mental health support facilities are there and how are they accessed?

• I require a single room/ensuite/quiet hall/to be on campus (or whatever) due to my condition. How would I go about making sure that I am allocated this?
• A recent study links Uni success in neurodivergent students to their having at least one other neurodivergent flatmate. Do you consider this when allocating flats?
• If not, do you consider social preferences (quiet, party-people, early or late to bed) when allocating flats?
• Is there a “move in a little early” scheme available for neurodivergent students to help them avoid the busy moving-in day? (also a great idea!)
• Can students with additional needs get further years in halls if they don’t want to move into a house share?

• What is the structure of the academic year? 3 terms or 2 semesters? (see note*)
• Are there contextual (reduced) offers made for people with (diagnosis)?
• When are the exam periods?
• If there are 3 terms, is there teaching carried out in terms 3?
• What are the typical contact hours for each year of the course?
• What length are lectures?
• For longer ones, is there an enforced break for all students half way? If not, how could I leave for a break?
• Will I be able to get lecture slides in advance to prepare?
• Are the lectures recorded and are recordings subtitled?
• Are lecturers available after the lecture to discuss points that aren’t clear at the time?
• Are lecturers available in set office hours to help with any queries on the lecture?
• Will I have any extra one-on-one or tutor group support to help with my additional needs?
• Can you give me an example timetable? Are contact hours spread out during the week?
• Is there a social and/or study space for undergraduates?

An aside to explain the first course-related question, an important difference from school, which we didn’t realise until now, is the Semester system. Most Unis work on a two-semester basis, so it’s roughly:

Semester 1 – September to January, possibly a study week in October/November, 2-4 weeks off at Christmas, revision lessons in January then exams.

Semester 2 – February to June or July, possibly a study week, sometimes depending on Easter, 2-4 weeks off at Easter, more lectures and then revision lectures and exams in May, June, July

This works well for our Young People as it’s a steady pattern of teaching, two exam periods, some breaks, and teaching throughout. However, there are some Unis who do it different:

2 Semesters of taught courses but with only 1 exam period at the end of Semester 2 (summer)

3 terms (like school) with teaching only in the 1st and 2nd term, and the 3rd term (after Easter) being for revision and exams

Neither of these two would be as ideal for our Young People because focusing everything onto one exam period is more stressful and, in the 3 term case, many students stay at home for that term to study so Uni life is disrupted and quiet. However, they may be ideal for your Young Person so it’s good to ask and know how they’re structured.

• What is the local town/city like, and how safe is it?
• What clubs are available, where are they held, and when?
• Are there quieter social activities/sober nights, etc?
• Where can students work – what places on campus, in the department, in the halls of residence?
• Where are the nearest supermarkets, shops, parks, public transport links, etc.

By Sarah Chudley

Parent in a neurodivergent family with 2 Young People, one in 2nd year of Uni and one just applying to UCAS now. University choices had to be made around Autism, ADHD, visual processing Dyslexia, and the anxieties and support needs that accompanied neurodivergence.

One parent went to University with undiagnosed ADHD, suffered dreadful mental health issues and had to drop out and restart 3rd year, the other didn’t want to go for many reasons… Autism and ADHD probably a big part of that. So now there’s so much support available, we want to make sure they both are at the right place for them with great support, as opportunities and acceptance for neurodivergent people are so much greater today.