Students on our BA (Hons) SEND and Inclusive Practice course learned more about the experiences of living with autism from guest lecturer Claire, who told her personal story about the challenges she faced.
During Claire’s talk, she described the early signs of anxiety that began affecting her time at school, leading to overwhelming physical symptoms and feelings of isolation. Despite these difficulties, they achieved strong exam results and continued on to college, where social situations and speaking in front of others remained challenging. These experiences ultimately led to setbacks during their studies.
After leaving college, the guest speaker went on to complete a distance-learning degree in Business and Law, graduating with honours. However, self-doubt continued to be a challenge, particularly after struggling with the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. It was during further counselling that she was first introduced to the idea that she might be autistic, a suggestion that later led to a formal diagnosis.
Since receiving her diagnosis, she has gained a new understanding of how her mind works and why certain aspects of traditional education were difficult to manage. She highlighted how factors such as exam structure, social expectations, and transitions between stages of education can create barriers for autistic people, even when they are highly capable academically.
This guest speaker forms part of the Education and Early Years Careers Excellence Hub. We are committed to preparing learners for success in a rapidly evolving job market which is reflected in our offer via our bespoke Career Excellence Hubs, which form an integral part of all college programmes. In a world where professional networks and industry-specific skills are integral to landing employment, these hubs provide a unique solution to bridge the gap between education and industry demands.
This session helped students to understand the lived experience of autism and showed how support in education can make a world of difference! To find out more about our SEND and Inclusive Practice course, click here!
