How can families support students with Autism in post-secondary education?

PostedDecember 17, 2025

UpdatedDecember 17, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Lucia Alvarez, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Family support plays a crucial role in helping autistic students thrive at college or university. According to NICE guidance and the National Autism Strategy (2021–2026), early family involvement in transition planning, ideally from age 14 onwards, helps young people prepare for the practical, social, and emotional changes of higher education.

Preparing for transition

The move from school to university often brings new challenges in routine, communication, and independence. NICE NG43 recommends collaborative planning between families, schools, and healthcare teams to ensure continuity of care and emotional stability. Families can help by:

encouraging self-advocacy

supporting realistic goal-setting

practising everyday independence skills such as budgeting, travel, and meal planning.

Charities such as the National Autistic Society (NAS) advise families to start conversations early about reasonable adjustments, applications for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), and how to navigate university disability services.

Emotional and practical support

A 2024 study published in Frontiers in Education shows that sustained family engagement improves both academic performance and wellbeing, particularly when families collaborate with tutors and disability advisors. Emotional support remains equally vital; families can help manage anxiety by maintaining open communication and encouraging self-regulation tools like Brain in Hand (recommended by the National Autistic Society).

The Office for Students (OfS) also highlights the importance of university–family partnerships: initiatives such as Autism Hubs and transition workshops improve student confidence and promote independence, while family guides reduce stress during the first academic term.

Understanding boundaries and collaboration

Families often face reduced involvement once students enter higher education due to adult confidentiality policies. However, NICE and DfE guidance recommend transparent consent frameworks so that universities can maintain family collaboration where appropriate (DfE SEND Improvement Plan, 2023). Encouraging students to decide what information can be shared supports autonomy while keeping a safety net in place.

Parent organisations such as Contact and Ambitious about Autism provide guidance on navigating Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans beyond school age, funding access, and communication with local authorities.

Takeaway

Families are key partners in ensuring autistic students succeed in higher education. By starting early, maintaining open communication, and supporting self-advocacy, parents can help students transition smoothly and build independence, creating a bridge between home and university that supports both confidence and wellbeing.

Lucia Alvarez, MSc

Author

Lucia Alvarez is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and extensive experience providing evidence-based therapy and psychological assessment to children, adolescents, and adults. Skilled in CBT, DBT, and other therapeutic interventions, she has worked in hospital, community, and residential care settings. Her expertise includes grief counseling, anxiety management, and resilience-building, with a strong focus on creating safe, supportive environments to improve mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.