Being autistic at UCL: students share their experience

Sunflowers against a mountain backdrop UCL Student Journalist Suzanna Chen asks fellow autistic students what makes them feel accepted in our community. April saw sunlight shining on budding flowers as spring sprung in full bloom, but it also centred the spotlight on autistic individuals during Autism Acceptance Month. While as an autistic person, I hope awareness and acceptance of people on the autism spectrum isn't just a topic for April, I was glad to see this population being acknowledged across UCL. For example, staff and students at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society shared their remarkable work with and for people with autism on 2 April, World Autism Awareness Day. But while efforts and discussions on the societal inclusion of autistic individuals are crucial, it's equally essential to make our immediate communities more accommodating to people with autism. So with that in mind, we asked autistic students: "What makes you feel accepted at UCL?"    BA History "I didn't begin to get any support at uni until my second year due to seeking an autism diagnosis later in life. However, once I got my medical evidence, I was flooded with support.