Autism at university

Autism in university is one of the autism-related topics I have written and spoken about most in recent years. The topics covered focus on the experiences, challenges, difficulties, and needs of autistic people/people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in higher education. These challenges are usually faced by parents, but are also felt by university professors and staff who support these students within the institutions. Over the years, I have spoken to various higher education institutions to the academic community (students, parents, professors, staff) about the inclusion of autism in universities. For example, in 2016 I participated for the first time in the 1st Cycle of Inclusive Pedagogy at the University of Lisbon, precisely on this topic. The 2nd cycle was held in 2021, and another cycle will be held in 2024. But experiences, challenges, difficulties, and needs continue to arise, partly because behavioral change is always slower than desired. And despite the existence of a whole set of manuals and guides, mostly free, to help university and technical staff accommodate the needs of these students, some resistance persists, as well as a lack of adequate support for these teachers to do so. This is because the heterogeneity found in the autism spectrum often means that the information provided in these guides is general and requires more individualized adaptation. Therefore, this program aims to continue contributing to that change. 1. How does autism reach the university? 2. Which University? 3. What kind of challenges & how to face them? 4. Relationships with colleagues: Always relationships 5. Relationships with professors: Always relationships 6. Sensory aspects 7. Some proposals