‘It is a big transition coming from post-primary school to university. In school there are strict timetables, supervision, direct teacher support. So, coming to a new campus and perhaps also living away from home can be overwhelming. Suddenly you are in charge of going to class, learning new terms, experiencing timetables that can change quickly and finding your way around a big campus- exhausting!

Trying to adapt can be difficult and I am keenly aware of the lived experience of our students in the services the university provides. Over my time here at SETU working directly with neurodivergent students on their academic studies and now as a Disability Advisor I see many students progress successfully on to their careers due to the hard work they apply to their studies and engaging with supports during their time at SETU. Diversity as an important step to creating more options for our students. I adapted this autism & uni toolkit specifically for our SETU autistic students and hope it will help them navigate and settle into university life.

Our tutors and ESW/ASD worker are very knowledgeable and well trained to support you. We understand the challenges that students face. As a team we are here to ensure a smooth transition from school to your new environment and using this toolkit will help. Choosing the right course is very important so make sure you are studying something you enjoy.

You are never alone on campus, many students registered with our services often relay to staff that “engaging with the services, availing of the supports and the ASC centre makes all the difference”.