ERIC Number: EJ1429551
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0307-5079
EISSN: EISSN-1470-174X
'How Does Universal Design for Learning Help Me to Learn?': Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Voices in Higher Education
Studies in Higher Education, v49 n6 p899-912 2024
The number of students with autism spectrum disorder in university is progressively increasing, which implies great challenges for higher education. Existing literature indicates that students with Autism Spectrum Disorder face many barriers to their participation and learning, some of which are attributed to teaching practices. Thus, this keeps us still on the road towards achieving genuinely inclusive institutions. With the purpose of promoting more inclusive practices according to students' preferences, this article aims to analyse the learning enablers for students with autism, which are related to inclusive teaching practices based on the Universal Design for Learning (UDL). A qualitative approach was selected, which allowed to gather the testimonies of seven university students with this disorder through semi-structured interviews conducted at a university in Spain. These students reported several enablers that supported their learning at university. Many of them indicated highlighting key concepts or receiving the information progressively. The majority described feeling more engaged when teachers considered their opinions and valued their efforts, among other facilitators. The study concludes with valuable recommendations, based on students' testimonies, for teachers to incorporate into their teaching practices. The perspectives of students with ASD have highlighted the significance of their voices. However, there is still a need to develop a shared speech that directly impacts the transformation of practices. The UDL approach could benefit students with ASD and others. Therefore, investigating how to introduce these practices into teacher training programs in higher education should be a priority for future research.
Descriptors: Access to Education, Students with Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, College Students, Inclusion, Student Attitudes, Teaching Methods, Foreign Countries
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Spain
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A