The learning experiences of UK autistic university students during the Covid-19 pandemic

Parker, Louise; Clarke, Victoria

Abstract

This study explored the learning experiences of autistic university students in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic, covering the period from the first lockdown in March 2020 to the removal of restrictions in July 2021 and the subsequent return to in-person learning. Data were generated from 17 participants using an online qualitative survey and were analysed with reflexive thematic analysis. We developed an overarching theme of ‘change impacts learning’, which encompassed the following three themes: 1) ‘online learning worked for me’ (including the sub-theme ‘the freedom and control of home learning’); 2) ‘online learning didn’t work for me’; and 3) ‘returning to campus brings so many challenges’. Changes to teaching delivery and subsequent impacts on learning highlights potential adjustments that can be made to increase the accessibility of higher education for autistic students.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 25, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Oct 31, 2023
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jul 26, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 1, 2023
• Journal: Qualitative Methods in Psychology Bulletin
• Print ISSN: 2044-0820
• Publisher: The British Psychological Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Issue: 36
• Pages: 15-27
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsqmip.2023.1.36.15
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10979446
• Publisher URL: https://explore.bps.org.uk/content/bpsqmip