The specific challenges presented by Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism were the focus of the second, and final, OMEGA event to take place this academic year. 

OMEGA events are aimed at young people with disabilities who have the potential and the desire to go on to higher education. They not only provide general information about higher education, but also outline the specific support available for students with disabilities. 

The final OMEGA event in the current series took place on the evening of 6 July and was hosted by The University of Nottingham. The OMEGA programme is just one of the many bespoke activities available through the Aimhigher Nottinghamshire higher education progression framework, and Aimhigher Manager, Purnima Vadera, the event organiser, welcomed the evening’s 50 guests, including school and college students, parents and carers, teachers and professionals from partnership organisations.

Asperger’s Syndrome in the Driving Seat

The evening began with a powerful account of living with Asperger’s Syndrome from guest speaker Julia Malkin. Julia founded the ‘Excel Driver and Instructor Academy’ in 2006 (www.excel-academy.co.uk). The academy offers a variety of courses for people with Asperger’s Syndrome, and for those who teach and train Asperger's Syndrome sufferers. 

Julia spoke movingly about a childhood blighted by bullies, family strife and an inability to make sense of what made her different and how she could make things better. Having remained undiagnosed right up until 2006, unsurprisingly, as a young woman Julia suffered from low self-esteem. However, that all changed when a colleague recognised Julia’s potential and suggested she join Mensa. 

Joining Mensa was the beginning of a new chapter for Julia. She went on to train as an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), qualifying as the only ADI in Britain with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Julia went on to found the ‘Excel Driver and Instructor Academy’ as well as beginning research into Autism and Driving. 

Julia is currently studying for not one, but two university degrees: A foundation degree in Managing Voluntary and Community Organisations at The University of Leicester and an Advanced Diploma in Education at The Open University.

 Higher education gives students with Asperger’s Syndrome a ‘new start’

Next, current students who all, (with one exception), have Asperger’s Syndrome, spoke about their own experiences of further and higher education: 

Chris Jesson is currently studying Urban Studies and Planning at Sheffield University. Since the age of 12, Chris has been interested in buildings and geography, and whilst, as a boy, he considered this to be a ‘peculiarity’ in his personality, as he got older, he embraced his interest and now hopes to pursue a career in town planning. Chris credited higher education with giving him ‘high quality education with high quality support’ and describes the university environment as giving people ‘the ability to practice what you feel comfortable doing rather than ironing them out’. 

Charlotte Wandsworth who is studying A levels at New College Nottingham, Jenny Bolland, a wheelchair user who is studying Drama at Lincoln University, Tom Hill from New College Nottingham, Tobe Lander who has just completed a media course West Nottinghamshire College, and Adam Rushworth, who is studying at The University of Nottingham, all gave their own unique experiences of school and of going on to further and higher education. Each student speaker made the point that going on to college and university gave them the opportunity for a ‘new start’ in a positive environment where nobody knew about their disability and where high quality support was readily available to them right from the start. 

Getting the right support in higher education

Following the real life experiences of the guest speakers, it was the turn of Nottingham’s two universities to provide specific information on the university application process. Lucy Ingham from The University of Nottingham provided advice on completing the UCAS application form and stressed the importance of declaring a disability on the application form so that appropriate support can be put in place as early as possible. 

Peter Hayes from Nottingham Trent University complemented Lucy’s presentation by giving tips on what to include in the UCAS personal statement. Carol East from student support at The University of Nottingham spoke about the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) and finally, Hilary Wellington from The Open University talked about courses and student support available within the organisation. 

After a brief question and answer session, guests were invited to browse the information stands where representatives from The University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, The Open University and New College Nottingham’s Additional Learning Support Team were on hand to answer specific questions. 

Students who came along to the event found the undergraduate talks particularly interesting. 

Feedback on the OMEGA event

A student at Bramcote College commented that ’getting an insight into how other students have managed higher education’ was especially useful. And on a more practical level, a member of staff from New College Nottingham thought that students would benefit greatly from ‘the Disabled Students’ Allowance and Personal Statement elements’ as this information will ‘help support learners more effectively through the UCAS application process’. 

OMEGA events for 2010-11

Although this was the final OMEGA event for this year, Aimhigher Nottinghamshire has provisionally planned 3 events for next year along the following themes:

• Hearing and visual impairments – Autumn term
• Neurodiversity including Autism and Asperger’s and Dyslexia – Winter term
• Mental and emotional difficulties ­­– Spring term  

We will be sending out further information about these events in September, but if you have any queries in the meantime, or would like to register an interest in attending or speaking at an OMEGA event, please contact Purnima Vadera on 0115 848 2882, email purnima.vadera@ntu.ac.uk.