University/College Screening Programmes

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Some members here have mentioned getting their formal diagnosis through a University/College
screening process. Can anyone give more detail? (My university has no screening, but a lot of students with suspected ASDs, and want to see if it is practical to set up some kind of screening system). Most of the current articles on screening are aimed at child diagnosis, which is not of any real use in this case. UK-based answers are most needed, but all input would be welcome.

Many thanks.

I got mine from Georgia State, but I didn't do any of the setting-up. I'd imagine you would want to start by contacting someone in the psychology department of a nearby university.

That's a good idea.

I'm in the UK, and my University diagnosed my Dyspraxia, but left my Aspergers' to the NHS to sort out. I'm not sure if that's the case all over the country or not.

Yes, the dyspraxia/dyslexia Dx was done through the university, but the NHS aren't doing anything about the AS. There is no concern for "adults", as presumably we don't need any help at university level! (Grrr! Group work!!) The Disability Services Unit are considering if it is practical to find someone to come in to do the screening for ASDs in a similar way.

Majority of universities in the UK has a Disability and Well-being Office. You should perhaps go and speak to someone there and see if they have an ASD expert. If they do, then they will probably be able to get your GP or the univerisity Counsellor to help you with getting an assessment.

You could of course approach your GP or Univeristy Counsellor direct, but there's always the chance that they'll tell you that you are thinking too much and don't have autism. People at the Disability Office has the obligation to take you seriously as they have to work under the Disability Discrimination Act (2005):

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (the "Act") received royal assent on 7 April 2005. The Act has been
heralded as a "stepping stone towards the goal of giving disabled people full opportunities in life to live,
work and contribute to our society like anyone else, and to have equal respect and equality" (Maria Eagle,
Minister for Disabled People).

I went to my University GP and asked her to refer me to a psychiatrist for Asperger assessment but it got me no where. I had to go private but should I have known there's a disability office, I could have got an NHS referral in the 1st place. However, i receive weekly free counselling and therapy at my university now that I have received a formal diagnosis.

Hope this helps

If your University has a Psychology graduate program, then often what will happen is that diagnostic and therapy services will be free for a period of time if you go through the Psychological Centre.

The MA Psych students are given about 3-5 "patients" that are pre-screened by the program, and they are given the task of diagnosing and helping the patient with whatever is troubling them. The services are free, because a student is doing the work and not a certified PhD clinical Psychologist. This encourages people to seek services through this venue, and provide training to the grad student. This work that they do with the patients is graded, and is essential to their graduation.

When I say "pre-screened", what I mean is that they would ask you questions to determine why you wanted the services and also to determine your level of mental stability. If you are an exceptional case that might need more specialized care, they would direct you somewhere else.

The purpose is to give the MA students "practice patients" that are easier and safer than working in the community with established mental health services. The PhD program is when the candidates move into the community and practice at addiction centres, mental wards, possibly even prisons.