The Autistic VOICES study
What we want to find out
The Autistic VOICES (Values, Outcomes, and Inclusive Community Engagement with Students) study aims to identify unmet needs of autistic university students in the UK. We want to understand the barriers they face and how well current supports are working from initial application through to graduation in order to improve university support services.
Why we’re doing this research
Autism diagnoses have increased four-fold in the last 20 years, and this is reflected in higher education. University services offer a critical source of support for autistic students1, yet the recent High Court ruling in University of Bristol v Abrahart underscores the need to ensure support is consistent, inclusive, and proactive2. To fulfil this responsibility, understanding contemporary student experience by capturing the direct, detailed accounts of autistic students themselves is crucial.
Method
Co-design
Our study will be developed in close collaboration with a Student Advisory Group comprised of autistic students from Cambridge and other partnering universities. Through online focus groups and interviews, our advisors will help design a comprehensive survey about university experiences, challenges, and support needs in autistic students.
Expert review
At every stage, researchers, lived experience experts, university staff, and community partners will be consulted to ensure our interview questions, surveys, documents, and general communication strategies are relevant and appropriate.
Pilot testing
The co-designed needs survey will be tested first with a small group, then rolled out to 500 to 3,000 autistic students across multiple UK universities.
Community engagement
Autistic individuals are more than participants — they are research partners. Our Student Advisory Group, composed entirely of autistic university students recruited specifically for this purpose, will lead in co-designing the survey. Advisory group members are separate from the Steering Committee.
Our Steering Committee includes researchers, university staff, and community partners, some of whom have lived experience of autism. Additional lived experience experts and members of organisations dedicated to promoting the health and wellbeing of autistic persons will also contribute as consultants.
Using flexible feedback channels (e.g., group discussions, one-on-one interviews, written feedback, voice or video recordings) to accommodate diverse communication needs, insights from co-designers will directly determine which questions are asked and what topics are prioritised in the study.
Information for Participants, Advisors, and Consultants
- Project Plan Infographic (PDF)
- Study Information Sheet (coming soon)
- Study Consent Form (coming soon)
Potential impact
Findings will provide an evidence-base for UK universities to understand needs and improve supports for autistic students. We will publish findings and recommendations to help institutions develop more effective, targeted support services and create more inclusive learning environments and policies so autistic students can thrive at university.
Results
We anticipate sharing results in 2027. When available, key findings will be shared on this page.
Staff
Principle Investigator
Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen
Corresponding Co-Investigator
Steering Committee
Harriet Cannon
Dr Tania Davies
Joanna Hastwell
Professor Nicola Martin
Dr Lewis Owens