Welcome To Dcu Autism Uni Toolkit Dublin City University

Leo Migdal

-Dec 13, 2025, 11:34 PM

welcome to dcu autism uni toolkit dublin city university

Tools and tips that will help you with choosing your course and applying to university. Tools and tips to help you make the most of your first year in DCU. Find services and facilities for autistic students at our university Recognise key buildings on the campus and familiarise yourself with room layouts as well as how to get to and from university buildings. Learn from other autistic students' experiences of higher education Find out more about the Nine Principles that our autism-friendly initiative is built.

Campus life can get pretty hectic. Here are some tips to help you find a moment or two of calm. Autism & Uni is a toolkit of resources and advice for autistic students entering University. If you are autistic and want to use a sensory pod contact disability.service @ dcu.ie or DCU's Autism Friendly Coordinator fiona.earley @ dcu.ie. There is a pod on every campus. DCU has become the world’s first designated autism-friendly university.

We are committed to supporting and celebrating our DCU Autistic community. We will be adapting the environment to make it more autism-friendly, raising autism acceptance through training and webinars. We aim to ensure that autistic students and staff have equal access to participate fully in all aspects of university life. Congratulations on earning your place in DCU! We hope you feel a warm welcome into our DCU community. This webpage acts as a toolkit will hopefully provide you with the tools and tips needed to succeed in your time here in DCU.

In DCU you’ll be able to study subjects that really interest you, and you’ll be able to find people who share your passions. Student life is about more than just lectures. You’ll have the chance to explore new hobbies, meet people from other cultures, and take part in campus life. You’ll have a range of ways to take part, whether it’s through joining a club, volunteering, playing sport or getting involved with the student union. You may not feel like being involved in lots of activities beyond your course – sometimes getting coursework done and spending time with classmates can be more than enough to keep you busy. However, if you have time and energy there is bound to be an activity that you’d enjoy.

This video was created by AHEAD, an independent non-profit organisation working to creative inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities. Learn more about AHEAD and the work they do here. When you have an offer of a place at DCU you will receive access to Discover DCU, DCU’s online transition and learning skills programme. Discover DCU is a series of 8 short interactive courses designed to help get you settled in and introduce you to the tools and skills you need to succeed at university. For more info and to access Discover DCU, see here. Each student has their own set of needs when it comes to attending lectures, studying or sitting exams.

Students on the autism spectrum may experience particular challenges relating to their sensory environment, communication or task completion. Sometimes, it can be hard to find the words to communicate this to university staff. DCU have an online profile form specifically for autistic students which offers you the chance to share the small things that may have a huge impact on their ability to engage fully with student... Consider sharing it with staff from the Disability & Learning Support Service by completing the online form. There are approximately fifteen short questions. Click here to start writing your personal profile.

Home » My Uni Life 2 » Dublin City University DCU campus is full of support for budding entrepreneurs and creators, from lecture halls to the community gardens, business ideas can grow and prosper. DCU as a university is an innovator – its the first autism friendly campus and believes in making education as accessible as possible for all types of students – something close to the heart... DCU are committed to supporting and celebrating students and staff who are on the autism spectrum. Through adapting the environment, raising awareness and acceptance, and building initiatives to make it easier for autistic community members to participate in university life, DCU has become one of the world’s first designated autism-friendly... In this series we meet Fiona Earley, the Autism-Friendly University Coordinator and Matthew Smith, a student studying Early Childhood Education in DCU.

Matthew is Autistic, so when it came to third-level education Matthew’s choice was influenced by the University’s student support system. He recalls “In particular, the Autism Friendly University programme was the deciding factor that made me put the course as my number one choice in my CAO.” The people on his course were very friendly and the teaching staff were open and approachable. “Everyone there is just really enthusiastic about wanting everybody to succeed. There’s lots of support and it was just a really cool experience,” says Matthew how has gained a new perspective on college life. Earlier this year, Dublin City University became the world's first autism-friendly university.

We spoke to Dr Cat Hughes, DCU's autism-friendly university coordinator, about how the project came to life and what difference it is making. “I’ve spent years working in autism research and am on the board of an autism charity, Aspire Ireland. I got a diagnosis myself while I was in university, so I have a real understanding of the challenges that people on the spectrum might face. I also have first-hand experience of the life-changing impact that good university supports can have for autistic students.” How did the idea to make DCU an autism-friendly campus come about? “The initiative was started as an idea from autism charity, AsIAm.

They have been doing amazing work in promoting understanding and acceptance of autism across the country. Adam Harris from AsIAm met with our university president, Brian MacCraith, and the two agreed it was an important and achievable step for DCU to take. “From there, a huge piece of research was conducted by Dr Mary Rose Sweeney and Prof Teresa Burke, alongside AsIAm. They asked current autistic students about their experiences, they conducted a sensory audit of our three campuses and they spoke to the general staff and student population about their understanding of autism. From there, a plan of action was created for the initiative.” Find out more about the many routes into university, whether it be DCU or elsewhere.

DCU has become the world’s first designated autism-friendly university through a collaboration between DCU, AsIAm and Specialisterne Ireland (a specialist consultancy that recruits and supports people with Autism). But what does that mean? DCU provide accommodation for incoming first years on both the DCU Glasnevin & DCU St Patricks Campuses. There are also a number of off-campus purpose built student accommodation options near DCU. DCU offers a range of services and supports for all students with a disability, specific learning difficulty or long term medical condition. This service is coordinated by the Disability & Learning Support Service.

Choosing where to go to college can be extremely daunting. What makes DCU stand out from other universities? Beyond being the World’s first Autism-Friendly University there are many reasons why you should choose to study at DCU. Sweeney, Mary Rose, Teresa, Burke, Katie, Quinn and Adam, Harris (2018) Living with Autism as a university student at Dublin City University: developing an Autism friendly university. Autism is a developmental disability that affects how one relates to, and communicates with other people. A number of definitions for autism exist but there is general agreement that the following characteristics are common amongst those on this spectrum - difficulties with communication, socialising, repetitive behaviours and a heightened sensory...

Last year, Dublin City University (DCU) announced it’s intention to make the University more autism friendly https://www4.dcu.ie/news/2016/jan/s0116j.shtml The project reported on here marks the end of an 18-month programme to create an environment within... Researchers at the School of Nursing and Human Sciences at DCU, in collaboration with AsIAm https://asiam.ie/ undertook a multi-arm study that explored the experiences of those living with Autism as a DCU student. The study aimed to identify and explore current services for DCU students with Autism, to explore their adequacy and to identify any gaps that could be addressed to improve life on campus. A whole campus approach to the study was taken, involving students, academics and support staff from across the multi-site university. Visit DEVELOP to find Digital Resources on Loop for College, Life and Career Need help finding your way around DCU?

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This Video Was Created By AHEAD, An Independent Non-profit Organisation