Evaluating the Role of an Assistive Online Toolkit to Support Autistic Students During the Transition into University

Autistic students face significant challenges in higher education, particularly regarding navigation, sensory overload, and accessing appropriate support. This study explores the role of an Assistive Online Toolkit in addressing these barriers and promoting autonomy, well-being, and social adaptation. Through qualitative analysis of student experiences, findings reveal that navigation difficulties and sensory overload contribute to heightened stress and disorientation. The Toolkit’s mapping and location features provided practical solutions, enhancing students’ confidence and independence in navigating campus. Additionally, a lack of awareness about available support services created further obstacles, which the Toolkit helped mitigate by offering clear guidance on reasonable adjustments and self-advocacy strategies. The transition to university also brought challenges in academic adaptation and social integration, with many students experiencing isolation and anxiety. The Toolkit’s resources helped normalize help-seeking behaviors and fostered a sense of belonging. These findings highlight the importance of digital assistive technologies tailored to autistic students’ needs, reinforcing the necessity of framing autism within a disability paradigm to ensure access to legal protections, accommodations, and continued innovation in assistive solutions.