Neurodiversity in Higher Education

Gregory, D. & Murray, F. (2025). Neurodiversity in Higher Education. In Neurodivergent Education and Lifelong Learning (pp. 49-72). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-8044-4.ch003

Publication date: 8 Aug 2025 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Book chapter Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)

Abstract

Neurodivergent students are systematically disadvantaged in higher education. Many of the barriers that they face stem from the persistence of outdated narratives about disability and difference, and institutional refusal to listen to students when it comes to their own needs. In addition to all of the usual steep learning curves faced by students when they first enter university, many neurodivergent students need to learn how to be their own advocates for the first time: understanding their own access needs, what can help, and how to fight for support. We draw on our own experiences and those of students we have helped support, along with the research literature, to examine the realities of university life for neurodivergent students, and look at the factors in the way of personal and academic thriving. We argue that a neurodivergence-affirming, student-centred approach, coupled with semi-formalised peer support, has the potential to smooth the way.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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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
74
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
11 / 74 (14.9%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
23 / 170 (13.5%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 23 / 53 (43.4%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 19 / 163 (11.7%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
53 / 170 (31.2%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 46 / 163 (28.2%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
30 / 53 (56.6%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 30 / 170 (17.6%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 27 / 46 (58.7%).
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