Achieving more at College Project
To follow up our earlier study of support for autistic students at university we are now undertaking an independent study of support for autistic students in college. Whilst the finishing touches are being put to the college survey data analysis, we are able to make our interim report available. Unlike the universities, virtually all of whom responded to our Freedom of Information Act requests, the majority of the colleges did not respond. The attached interim report covers those colleges that did respond to the FOI requests (and we thank them for their data). The additional analysis work we are doing relates to data provided by a further tranche of colleges following contact from the Office of the Information Commissioner. We hope to publish our final report on the college project by the end of the year.
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The total number of autistic students at the 27 colleges reporting figures for all five of the academic years covered in this study increased from 1,849 in 2012/13 to 3,539 in 2016/17. This represents an increase in the student population declaring a diagnosis of autism over the five years of 91% i.e. the numbers almost doubled during the period in question. Sufficient support of the right kinds can make the difference between an individual student making a success of their studies and enjoying a social life and being failed both academically and socially.
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Having an autism-friendly approach to supporting their autistic students should enhance a college’s academic performance and student experience metrics.
THE ‘ACHIEVING MORE AT COLLEGE’ PROJECT: an independent study of the extent of support provided for students with autism at college in the UK