Problem Space

In 2016 I was a Senior Disability Specialist in the Office of Accessibility at NYU working with students with a wide range of physical, learning and mental health disabilities. At the time, NYU had a rapidly growing population of students with autism spectrum related conditions. Our office’s data showed that despite these student’s strong academic potential, their academic outcomes were extremely poor and they were far more likely to leave the university without obtaining their degree than students in any other disability category. 

Research Process

I took the initiative to research support programs for autistic students at universities throughout the country to see if we could implement something similar at NYU. In addition to conducting a literature review on autism in higher education and attending numerous conferences on the subject, I sought out experts, conducting interviews with numerous KOLs. Working with top experts in autism research we decided to do something innovative: seek out the wisdom of our autistic students to find out directly from them, in specially adapted focus groups, how the university could best support them.  

Outcomes and Deliverables

Based on our research and  the data we obtained from our autistic students, we created NYU Connections, an innovative support program for neurodivergent students. Rather than follow a traditional deficit-based model present in most autism higher education support programs, one where experts work with autistic students to improve their areas of weakness, we created a model designed to harness the inherent strengths of our students. The program also fosters mutual aid and community-building. This project was piloted in 2016 and I managed it for two years. Today it is still thriving, leading the university to be recognised as a leader in inclusion issues, and the rates of autistic student retention and success at NYU has steadily improved.