Exploring Environmental Barriers and Facilitators to Inclusion on a University Campus for Autistic Students

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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O'Connor, M., Jones, S. C., Gordon, C. S., & Joosten, A. (2022). Exploring Environmental Barriers and Facilitators to Inclusion on a University Campus for Autistic Students. Autism in Adulthood, 6(1), 36-46. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2022.0053

Publication date: 7 Dec 2022 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 4 (25.0%)
  1. Maxine O'Connor
  2. Sandra C. Jones *
  3. Chloe S. Gordon
  4. Annette Joosten

Abstract

Background: Attending university allows individuals to build independence, develop social networks, and attain valuable qualifications, contributing to enhanced outcomes in adulthood. However, autistic people have poorer participation rates and outcomes in university than those with all other disabilities or without disabilities. Most research conducted with autistic young adults in the university environment focuses on their social and communicative challenges and supports rather than on how the physical environment impacts an autistic student's university experience. Therefore, there is a need for research into how the sensory aspects of the university environment can affect the well-being and outcomes of autistic students. Methods: This qualitative study explored the experiences of seven autistic university students in the physical spaces of an Australian university. Using a semi-structured interview guide, and photo-elicitation, we collected data in one-on-one interviews with seven autistic undergraduate students. Results: We found that sensory aspects of physical spaces on university campuses are both enabling and challenging for autistic students. These aspects not only impact how students navigate and utilize aspects of the campus, but they also influence how students engage and participate at university. Autistic students need the space and resources to manage sensory overload on campus, and universities that seek to support autistic students need to consider the physical and sensory needs of this cohort. Conclusions: Inclusive university education requires attention to the physical aspects of campuses that support the mental and physical well-being of autistic students.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 07:51.

Cited references
35
With a DOI
29
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
6
4 / 35 (11.4%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
0 / 35 (0.0%)
References with detected author names
35 / 35 (100.0%)
Without detected author names
0
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
5
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
99
From DOI or external metadata
99
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
36 / 99 (36.4%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 63 / 99 (63.6%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
4 / 99 (4.0%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 4 / 36 (11.1%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 4 / 91 (4.4%).
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