“...Fallen through the cracks...”: A Co-Produced Qualitative Exploration of Autistic Student Experiences at an Irish Higher Education Institution

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Neilson, S., O'Kelly, J., Doyle, J. K., Kenny, N., O’Neill, C., Butler, S., & McDonald, J. (2025). “...Fallen through the cracks...”: A Co-Produced Qualitative Exploration of Autistic Student Experiences at an Irish Higher Education Institution. Autism in Adulthood, 7(4), 505-516. https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581251362835

Publication date: 1 Aug 2025 Added to AutiHub: 12 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 7 (28.6%)
  1. Stuart Neilson
  2. Jane O'Kelly
  3. Jessica K. Doyle *
  4. Neil Kenny
  1. Claire O’Neill *
  2. Sophie Butler
  3. Joan McDonald

Abstract

Background: This co-produced study explores the experiences of autistic students regarding their transition to and enrollment at an Irish Higher Education Institution (HEI). Autistic students’ experiences of belonging, acceptance, and support were explored, and the study was collaboratively conducted by autistic and non-autistic researchers at all stages of the research. Methods: A sample of autistic student participants (n = 14) took part in either flexible semi-structured interviews (n = 12) or text-based responses to the interview framework (n = 2). Interviews were conducted flexibly in accordance with participant preferences and communication needs. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: The findings of this study reveal diverse experiences across the participants in higher education, emphasizing the need for inclusive approaches recognizing autistic neurology and differences to support belonging and acceptance in university. The transition experiences for some participants were challenging, with a lack of personalized and flexible support leading to anxiety and a lack of predictability. Participants also identified barriers while navigating college life, including hostile learning environments, a lack of understanding regarding autistic neurology among university staff and peers, inconsistent and inflexible pedagogical approaches used by academic staff, and stringent requirements to access disability support services. These barriers often led to students being unable to access support or choosing not to disclose their autistic status. Participants also found socializing and developing relationships with non-autistic peers challenging but reported that autistic student community groups, such as the Neurodivergent Society, were a very positive factor in supporting well-being, social acceptance, and a sense of belonging. Other supports were specialist support staff, such as the autism-friendly coordinator and occupational therapist at student services. Discussion: The study highlights the importance of early guidance, systemic integration, and increased awareness among university staff. It underscores the role of structural support systems, such as specialist disability access routes into university and specialist support staff, in easing transitions and supporting predictability and acceptance.

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Confirmed Reliability level: Medium Manual

Bibliography cited by this reference

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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 17:07.

Cited references
53
With a DOI
42
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
11
18 / 53 (34.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
6 / 53 (11.3%)
References with detected author names
47 / 53 (88.7%)
Without detected author names
6
Without a structured title
6
Without a stable identifier
10
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
186
From DOI or external metadata
186
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
6
102 / 186 (54.8%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 84 / 186 (45.2%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
36 / 186 (19.4%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 36 / 102 (35.3%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 31 / 172 (18.0%).
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