Understanding the Needs of Autistic Post-Secondary Students

Autistic students are a growing subgroup within post-secondary schooling; however, little is known about barriers to their success in that context. Research suggests autistic students face more challenges to completing post-secondary education than neurotypical students, but findings often rely on expert opinion and fail to incorporate first-hand perspectives. To address this gap, a qualitative inquiry into barriers to success for autistic post-secondary students was conducted. Thematic Analysis yielded 10 themes in three categories, while two separate cross-cutting themes emerged; themes interact with one another, intensifying concerns of autistic students. Findings can support post-secondary institutions to reflect on the extent to which these barriers are present for their autistic students and modify support services accordingly.

Automated summary

Autistic students in post-secondary schooling face more challenges to completing education compared to neurotypical students. A qualitative inquiry identified 10 themes and two cross-cutting themes related to barriers to success for autistic students, highlighting the need for support services. The findings provide valuable insights for post-secondary institutions to reflect on and modify their support for autistic students.