UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM IN SINGAPORE: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder are entering higher education (HE) in increasing numbers, but current research on understanding their experiences and support needs indicates several gaps in the literature. Additionally, most research was conducted in Western countries, with only two exceptions (one study each from Japan and Israel). The present study adopted a qualitative approach, targeting multiple stakeholders (autistic students, neurotypical students, and faculty members in HE) to explore the experiences, opportunities and challenges faced by autistic HE students in Singapore. Responses from online open-ended survey questions revealed themes similar to those in extant literature, with novel findings pertaining to the unique cultural and societal context of Singapore. Key findings indicate that more supports should be developed to better enable autistic students to fulfil their potential in HE, which is a necessarily joint effort between all stakeholders involved (e.g. the students, their peers, families, etc.). Future directions include surveying more stakeholders to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the HE experiences of autistic students, expanding the literature base in Asian countries and collaborating with autistic individuals and other stakeholders to inform the development and improvement of supports for autistic HE students.