Using design thinking to engage autistic students in participatory design of an online toolkit to help with transition into higher education

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref OpenCitations
Learn more about the sources used

Fabri, M., Andrews, P. C., & Pukki, H. (2016). Using design thinking to engage autistic students in participatory design of an online toolkit to help with transition into higher education. Journal of Assistive Technologies, 10(2), 102-114. https://doi.org/10.1108/jat-02-2016-0008

Publication date: 27 May 2016 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
OpenAlex source Publisher source (DOI) Full text

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)
  1. Marc Fabri
  2. Phoenix C.S. Andrews
  3. Heta Pukki *

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reflect on engaging young autistic people in the participatory design of the Autism&Uni online toolkit. The purpose of the toolkit is to provide autistic students with information and strategies for dealing with the challenges they may encounter when entering higher education. The study adds to existing research on participatory design by considering the specific needs and contributions of autistic people who are of average or higher intelligence, academically competent and generally articulate, a group that has received limited attention hitherto. Design/methodology/approach – The research used a five-step design thinking approach and engaged multiple stakeholders at different points. The paper covers the whole process, paying particular attention to the final two steps of prototyping and testing. During three participatory design workshops, autistic people acted as co-designers and co-creators. Findings – The workshops were effective in engaging participants in various design activities and rich discussions. Several assumptions about capabilities and preferences of autistic people were challenged. Design thinking proved a suitable framework for involving this group in the creation of solutions that serve their needs. Research limitations/implications – Because of the low number of workshop participants (11), research results may lack generalisability. Also, the workshop format with its focus on group activities may discourage some autistic people to take part. Further work is needed to explore this and to confirm the reported findings. Practical implications – The paper offers practical advice regarding how to involve autistic people in co-design activities. Social implications – The research contributes to a strength-based view of autism, rather than one that focuses on deficits. Originality/value – The paper provides new perspectives on the strengths of autistic people in participatory design settings, with a focus on those autistic people who are of average or higher intelligence and able to communicate effectively.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
51
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
0 / 51 (0.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
0 / 80 (0.0%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 0 / 17 (0.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 0 / 75 (0.0%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
17 / 80 (21.2%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 15 / 75 (20.0%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
17 / 17 (100.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 17 / 80 (21.2%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 15 / 15 (100.0%).
  1. john Brooke (1996). SUS: A 'Quick and Dirty' Usability Scale . In Usability Evaluation In Industry (pp. 207-212). CRC Press.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1201/9781498710411-35 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W19399978
    OpenAlex
  2. Katharine S. Adams , Briley E. Proctor (2010). Adaptation to College for Students with and without Disabilities: Group Differences and Predictors. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 22(3), 166.
    Type: Article OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2136395696
    Crossref OpenAlex
  3. Kate Plaisted Grant , Greg Davis (2009). Perception and apperception in autism: rejecting the inverse assumption . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1522), 1393-1398. The Royal Society.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2009.0001 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2139421134
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. (1996). Usability Evaluation In Industry . CRC Press.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1201/9781498710411 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W591743112
    OpenAlex
  5. AHEAD (2012), Survey on the Participation Rates of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education for the Academic Year 2011/2012, AHEAD Educational Press, Blackrock, Dublin.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  6. Viktoria Lyons , Michael Fitzgeral (2013). Critical Evaluation of the Concept of Autistic Creativity . In Recent Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorders - Volume I. InTech.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.5772/54465 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1577225714
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Catherine Best , Shruti Arora , Fiona Porter , Martin Doherty (2015). The Relationship Between Subthreshold Autistic Traits, Ambiguous Figure Perception and Divergent Thinking . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(12), 4064-4073. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2518-2 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1564856353
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  8. Alsop, R. (2016), “Are autistic individuals the best workers around?”, BBC Capital, available at: www.bbc.com/capital/story/20160106-model-employee-are-autistic-individuals-the-best-workers-around (accessed 1 February 2016).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  9. Isabelle Simard , David Luck , Laurent Mottron , Thomas A. Zeffiro , Isabelle Soulières (2015). Autistic fluid intelligence: Increased reliance on visual functional connectivity with diminished modulation of coupling by task difficulty . NeuroImage: Clinical, 9, 467-478. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.09.007 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1949996576
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. González Moreno, Andrés Santiago (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . American Psychiatric Association.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4247665917
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  11. Joyce Davidson , Victoria L. Henderson (2010). ‘Coming out’ on the spectrum: autism, identity and disclosure . Social & Cultural Geography, 11(2), 155-170. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/14649360903525240 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1989287842
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  12. Andrew Withell , Neil Haigh (2013). Developing Design Thinking Expertise in Higher Education . DRS // CUMULUS 2013. Design Research Society.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.21606/learnxdesign.2013.160 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1603523279
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  13. Nuria Aresti-Bartolome , Begonya Garcia-Zapirain (2014). Technologies as Support Tools for Persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(8), 7767-7802. MDPI AG.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3390/ijerph110807767 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2001491100
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  14. Katherine McDonald , Erin Stack (2016). You say you want a revolution: An empirical study of community-based participatory research with people with developmental disabilities . Disability and Health Journal, 9(2), 201-207. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.12.006 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2213026749
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  15. Autism &Uni (2016), “A guide to best practice in supporting higher education students on the autism spectrum”, Vols 1-3, available at: www.autism-uni.org/bestpractice (accessed 31 March 2016).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  16. Timo Lorenz , Kathrin Heinitz (2014). Aspergers – Different, not less: Occupational strengths and job interests of individuals with Asperger's syndrome. Unpublished.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.13140/2.1.2535.6808 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W6960225483
    OpenCitations
  17. Deborah Russo Jameson (2007). Self-Determination and Success Outcomes of Two-Year College Students with Disabilities . Journal of College Reading and Learning, 37(2), 26-46. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/10790195.2007.10850196 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1970725168
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  18. Nancy Bagatell (2010). From Cure to Community: Transforming Notions of Autism . Ethos, 38(1), 33-55. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/j.1548-1352.2009.01080.x OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2085448344
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  19. Andrée‐Anne S. Meilleur , Patricia Jelenic , Laurent Mottron (2015). Prevalence of Clinically and Empirically Defined Talents and Strengths in Autism . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(5), 1354-1367. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2296-2 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1971896840
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  20. Luke Beardon , Nicola Martin , I Woolsey (2009). What do students with Asperger syndrome or highfunctioning autism want at college and university? (in their own words) . Good Autism Practice, 10(2), 35.
    Type: Article OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2800455132
    Crossref OpenAlex
  22. Éric Fombonne (2009). Epidemiology of Pervasive Developmental Disorders . Pediatric Research, 65(6), 591-598. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e31819e7203 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2143333975
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  23. Ann Simmeborn Fleischer , Margareta Adolfsson , Mats Granlund (2013). Students with disabilities in higher education – perceptions of support needs and received support . International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 36(4), 330-338. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1097/mrr.0b013e328362491c OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1997251351
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  24. Brooke, J. (1996), “SUS: a ‘quick and dirty’ usability scale”, in Jordan, P. W., Thomas, B., Weerdmeester, B. A. and McClelland, I. L. (Eds), Usability Evaluation in Industry, Taylor & Francis, London, pp. 189-94.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  25. (2010). Design thinking for social innovation . Stanford Social Innovation Review, 8(1), 29.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  26. Bryan M. Ness (2013). Supporting Self-Regulated Learning for College Students with Asperger Syndrome: Exploring the “Strategies for College Learning” Model . Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 21(4), 356-377. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/13611267.2013.855865 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2018610840
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  27. Manuel Madriaga , Dan Goodley (2010). Moving beyond the minimum: socially just pedagogies and Asperger’s syndrome in UK higher education . International Journal of Inclusive Education, 14(2), 115-131. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/13603110802504168 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2003729110
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  28. Brugha, T., Cooper, S. A., McManus, S., Purdon, S., Smith, J., Scott, F. J., Spiers, N. and Tyrer, F. (2012), “Estimating the prevalence of autism spectrum conditions in adults: extending the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, Leeds, available at: www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB05061/esti-prev-auti-ext-07-psyc-morb-surv-rep.pdf (accessed 31 March 2016).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  29. Ann Simmeborn Fleischer (2012). Alienation and struggle: everyday student-life of three male students with Asperger Syndrome . Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 14(2), 177-194. Stockholm University Press.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/15017419.2011.558236 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2076439670
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  30. Horst W. J. Rittel , Melvin M. Webber (1973). Dilemmas in a general theory of planning . Policy Sciences, 4(2), 155-169. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/bf01405730 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2010793828
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  31. (2013). Conducting research with individuals who have intellectual disabilities: ethical and practical implications for qualitative research . Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 19(2), 14.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  32. Tim Brown , Jocelyn Wyatt (2010). Design Thinking for Social Innovation . Development Outreach, 12(1), 29-43. World Bank.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1596/1020-797x_12_1_29 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2010961314
    OpenAlex OpenCitations
  33. d.school (2010), “Design thinking bootcamp bootleg”, Stanford, CA, available at: http://dschool.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/BootcampBootleg2010v2SLIM.pdf (accessed 31 March 2016).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  34. Shi Min Liew , Nishta Thevaraja , Ryan Y. Hong , Iliana Magiati (2015). The Relationship Between Autistic Traits and Social Anxiety, Worry, Obsessive–Compulsive, and Depressive Symptoms: Specific and Non-specific Mediators in a Student Sample . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(3), 858-872. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2238-z OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2068932275
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  35. Ken Gobbo , Solvegi Shmulsky (2012). Classroom Needs of Community College Students with Asperger's Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorders . Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 36(1), 40-46. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/10668920903381813 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2045477114
    OpenAlex OpenCitations
  36. Lászlό Erdődi , Renée Lajiness-O’Neill , Thomas A. Schmitt (2013). Learning Curve Analyses in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Are Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Truly Visual Learners? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(4), 880-890. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1630-9 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2141491085
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  37. Deborah E. Griswold , Gena P. Barnhill , Brenda Smith Myles , Taku Hagiwara , Richard L. Simpson (2002). Asperger Syndrome and Academic Achievement . Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 17(2), 94-102. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/10883576020170020401 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2117489476
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  38. MARTIN MAGUIRE (2001). Methods to support human-centred design . International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 55(4), 587-634. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1006/ijhc.2001.0503 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2061419792
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  39. Jaci C. Huws , Robert S. P. Jones (2008). Diagnosis, disclosure, and having autism: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the perceptions of young people with autism . Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 33(2), 99-107. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/13668250802010394 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2072336624
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  40. Alinda Gillott , P.J. Standen (2007). Levels of anxiety and sources of stress in adults with autism . Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 11(4), 359-370. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1744629507083585 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2107963389
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  41. Tara J. Glennon (2001). The stress of the university experience for students with Asperger syndrome . WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation, 17(3), 183-190. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3233/wor-2001-00188 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2161896962
    Crossref OpenAlex
  42. Timo Lorenz , Kathrin Heinitz (2014). Aspergers – Different, Not Less: Occupational Strengths and Job Interests of Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome . PLoS ONE, 9(6), e100358. Public Library of Science (PLoS).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100358 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2074042202
    Crossref OpenAlex
  43. (2014). Classroom needs of community college students with asperger’s disorder and Autism spectrum disorders . Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 36(1), 40.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  44. Elizabeth B.-N. Sanders , Pieter Jan Stappers (2008). Co-creation and the new landscapes of design . CoDesign, 4(1), 5-18. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/15710880701875068 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2137045791
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  45. HESA (2013), “Table 14 – first year UK domiciled HE students by level of study, sex, mode of study, and disability 2012/13”, Cheltenham, available at: www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/pressOffice/sfr210/071277_student_sfr210_1314_table_14.xlsx (accessed 31 March 2016).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  46. IDEO (2015), The Field Guide to Human-Centred Design, IDEO, San Francisco, CA.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  47. Lorcan Kenny , Caroline Hattersley , Bonnie Molins , Carole Buckley , Carol Povey , Elizabeth Pellicano (2016). Which terms should be used to describe autism? Perspectives from the UK autism community . Autism, 20(4), 442-462. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361315588200 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2227393071
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  48. (2008). Towards an inclusive environment for university students who have Asperger syndrome (AS) . Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education, 1(1), 3.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  49. Millen, L., Edlin-White, R. and Cobb, S. (2010), “The development of educational collaborative virtual environments for children with autism”, Proceedings of the 5th Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology, Cambridge, 23-25 March.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  50. Ratcliffe, R. (2014), “Helping students with Asperger’s prepare for university life”, The Guardian, available at: www.theguardian.com/education/2014/sep/09/students-aspergers-ready-university-life (accessed 1 February 2016).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  51. UK Design Council (n.d.), “Design methods for developing services”, Keeping Connected Business Challenge, available at: https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/3338201/service-design-methods (accessed 31 March 2016).
    Type: Other
    Crossref