
Community Voices: Ella Durrigan on Starting College
Autism vs First Year of college
May 2019: I have just finished my summer exams. I had dropped out of college twice before and this was third time lucky. I had finally completed the first year of a degree in Digital Marketing, Communication and Public Relations in Dundalk IT, a course with a mixture of academic, creative and technology skills that I fell in love with.
The first semester was the hardest. I was on a mission to hide the fact that I was autistic. I would go to college only to come home and have a meltdown and not go back for another few days. This cycle went on all semester and by the time Christmas holidays came along, the stress of college had physically got to me, leaving me sick for the whole break.
I decided I was going to leave college again and honestly, I felt like most people were expecting this. However, my parents pushed me to keep going. I decided to give it another go but before long, I was back into the same cycle and I knew that this wasn’t working. My parents kept telling me to ask for help, but I refused. I couldn’t let my secret out!
After falling sick again, I decided to send an email to all my lecturers explaining that I was autistic and had ADD, what it meant and that I needed help with finishing first year. I really believed I’d be treated differently now in college, that I’d just be viewed as someone with a disability, nothing more. However, it was the opposite, with every single lecturer replying with nothing but support and suggestions on how they felt they could help.
And from there, college got better, thanks to just one email where I was open and honest. I wasn’t treated any differently – I still had to do my work – just in different ways. For example, some lecturers allowed me to do solo presentations instead of group presentations and I was able to present just in front of the lecturers and friends. I also didn’t have to come in everyday- I did the coursework at home – but after everyone knew, I started going in more. College suddenly wasn’t as hard as it had been for me in my first semester.
I had also made good friends in college and I decided to let them in on my secret. They made no big deal out of it but just pushed me harder to finish the year. They helped me with notes and group projects, especially when I wasn’t in, reminding me to eat when I was gone into full stress mode, the list goes on.
Through accepting my diagnosis and no longer hiding it, I got a lot more confidence in myself. In my second semester we had a writing module where we had to create a blog. And what did I do my blog on? Living with autism on a day-to-day basis. Not only was the secret out but I had fully accepted it and I wanted to help others on the spectrum.
With increasing numbers of students on the spectrum attending college, there are several ways that third-level institutions can be more autism-friendly for us. The first way is by educating staff about the spectrum, what it is about and what day to day life is like for us.
Another way to help first years on the spectrum is to have a separate Orientation Day before they start college. This way, they get to see the college in a smaller group setting without the masses of people who attend Orientation Week. Colleges should offer quiet places for students on the spectrum, separate to the library! Some people on the spectrum have sensory issues and the noises in a library e.g. rustling of paper, bright lights, whispering could send us into overload! Also, routine is a huge part of autism so when there are free hours between classes, we sometimes need help filling in the blanks.
I also registered in the disability services in Dundalk IT, which helped as I got a lot support there. Students need to be made aware of the disability services in college and the help that is available.
My advice for students themselves is: don’t keep it a secret. Be open and honest with yourself and the people around you and half the battle has been won. People on the spectrum can become so hyper focused on college that we work too hard, stressing ourselves to a point of a meltdown. When it comes to college work, mind yourself – it isn’t the end of the world if you need an extension for an essay or a day or two off. College is achieved in three to four years or more, not in a week!
by AsIAm.ie - 11 September, 2019
Last updated by AsIAm.ie - September 24, 2019
in Anxiety and Meltdowns, Autism, Autism and Women, Blog, College, Community Voices, Education, Mental Health, Routine

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WHAT IS THE TRIPLE A ALLIANCE? Triple A Alliance was set up in 2002 by a group of parents who wa...[...]

Make Your Club Autism-Friendly
by AsIAm.ie - 19 April, 2018
Awareness about autism has increased among society in recent years. This is a positive developmen...[...]

Creating a Quiet Space
by AsIAm.ie - 16 April, 2018
Sensory rooms or quiet spaces are designated areas where autistic people can use to stim or retre...[...]

Create a “Social story” for your business or organisation
by AsIAm.ie - 15 April, 2018
Social stories are short guides of a particular situation, event or activity. They include specif...[...]

#Day 13 Making Written Communication Clear
by AsIAm.ie - 14 April, 2018
Day#13 of our #AsIAmChallenge is about using Plain English when communicating. We often think ...[...]

Making Your Organisation Sensory-Friendly
by AsIAm.ie - 13 April, 2018
Day#12 of our #AsIAmChallenge is about being aware of people's sensory needs. Autistic individual...[...]

Check out our Sensory Checklist Tool!
by AsIAm.ie - 13 April, 2018
It's Day 12 of #AsIAmChallenge and things have taken a big step up! Today we are challenging memb...[...]

Autism & Stereotyping
by AsIAm.ie - 12 April, 2018
Autism is widely known yet it is not widely understood. Awareness of the condition has grown in r...[...]

CALLOUT: World Autism Awareness Month Blogs
by AsIAm.ie - 6 April, 2018
Personal stories and experiences, sharing and openly discussing them, are what make any awarene...[...]

Sensory Awareness in Practice
by AsIAm.ie - 4 April, 2018
An autistic person’s brain may struggle to receive and respond to information collected through t...[...]

Top Tips for Being Patient
by AsIAm.ie - 3 April, 2018
ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION AT A TIME Autistic people love routine and predictability. Knowing what...[...]

World Autism Month: The #AsIAmChallenge
by AsIAm.ie - 2 April, 2018
World Autism Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate the autism community, highlight the chall...[...]

Teach Me AsIAm Early Years Programme Arrives at Limerick
by AsIAm.ie - 30 March, 2018
Up to sixty early years professionals attended the ‘Teach Me AsIAm’ Early Years seminar in Limeri...[...]

DCU Autism-Friendly Campus Launched Today
by AsIAm.ie - 22 March, 2018
Dublin City University was recognised as the world’s first autism-friendly university by AsIAm to...[...]

Nicole Duggan: My Boy Blue
by AsIAm.ie - 19 February, 2018
Nicola Duggan is a young parent of a child on the autism spectrum. She has been blogging about he...[...]

Spotlight: Autism Spectrum Fitness
by AsIAm.ie - 15 February, 2018
Fitness and keeping up exercise can be challenging habits to start, nevermind keep, for those of ...[...]

Daniel Fitzpatrick: Mental Health & Being on the Autism Spectrum
by AsIAm.ie - 31 January, 2018
Autistic individuals are likelier to develop complications with their own mental health than thos...[...]

Brian Irwin: Accessibility & Finding the Supports You Need
by AsIAm.ie - 19 December, 2017
Brian Irwin, a self advocate based in Cork, talks about his personal journey as a young person on...[...]

Kevin Hanly: “Take it One Day at a Time”
by AsIAm.ie - 28 November, 2017
Beginning a new start anywhere – whether it’s a new school, a new college or a job – is as exciti...[...]

Brian Irwin: Sensory Overload & Meltdowns
by AsIAm.ie - 8 November, 2017
Sensory overloads are common experiences with many autistic individuals and can often lead to mel...[...]

Laura Crean: Just what is a ‘successful’ transition?
by AsIAm.ie - 17 October, 2017
Laura Crean is a member of AsIAm's Youth Leadership Team and currently in her first year of study...[...]

Kevin McLoughlin: ‘Look At Me Now’
by AsIAm.ie - 4 October, 2017
Kevin McLoughlin is a member of our Youth Leadership Team and is currently completing his Leaving...[...]

Louise Ryan: Knowing Parents’ Rights for Your Child’s Education
by AsIAm.ie - 2 October, 2017
Louise Ryan from Co. Limerick, a mother of two young boys on the autistic spectrum, talks about h...[...]

Socialising & Building Social Skills
by AsIAm.ie - 29 September, 2017
Amid preparing for school or for college, whilst we’re often completely caught up worrying if we’...[...]

Joanne Weller: Back to Education and Transitioning from School to College and Further Education
by AsIAm.ie - 22 September, 2017
It’s the time of month again to go back to school and starting third level education, even going ...[...]

Kevin Hanly: New Journeys Starting College
by AsIAm.ie - 1 September, 2017
With the college term fast approaching, students across Ireland are busy readying themselves for ...[...]

Poem: BE YOU – NIQUE
by AsIAm.ie - 25 July, 2017
Leigh E. O'Brien's young nephew Liam lives with autism. Earlier this year, she composed this poem...[...]

Spotlight: Middletown Centre for Autism
by AsIAm.ie - 24 July, 2017
The Middletown Centre for Autism is an educational and research facility whose work revolves arou...[...]

Adam Kennefick: Autism Through My Eyes
by AsIAm.ie - 17 July, 2017
When I was just a small child, my parents and teachers noticed something different about me. They...[...]

Interview: Autism, Tipp G.A.A. and Me
by AsIAm.ie - 6 July, 2017
This week, we sat down with Kevin Hanly, a young man from Tipperary to talk about his experiences...[...]

Sean Foley: My ongoing experiences with feelings
by AsIAm.ie - 4 July, 2017
For an autistic individual like myself, 'feelings' is something of a grey area. We do experience ...[...]

NEW MONTHLY COMPETITION: Your thoughts on…
by AsIAm.ie - 1 September, 2016
We are excited to announce a new monthly competition on AsIAm.ie! Every month we will ask users t...[...]

Lisa Domican: If I can’t talk, how can I tell you where it hurts?
by AsIAm.ie - 1 October, 2014
Lisa Domican, Founder of Grace App, talks about the challenge for parents in identifying pain in ...[...]

RTE News Six:One – AsIAm.ie “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 10 September, 2014
The challenges of "Back to School" for students with Autism, and the launch of the AsIAm.ie "Back...[...]

Kenneth Whelan: “Why don’t you take Ethan to this CoderDojo thing?”
by AsIAm.ie - 25 August, 2014
Many families affected by Autism may be considering possible suitable extra-curricular activities...[...]

My Child / All About Me Handbooks: Every child with Autism is different
by AsIAm.ie - 24 August, 2014
There is an old adage: "If you know one person with Autism, you know one person with Autism" It ...[...]

Newstalk Breakfast: Vanessa Fox-O’Loughlin shares her story & AsIAm “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 22 August, 2014
Yesterday we were delighted to launch our AsIAm "Back to School" Handbooks for teachers, parents...[...]

Press Conference: AsIAm “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 21 August, 2014
AsIAm.ie has today published a series of guides to help people with autism deal with the major ch...[...]

Sean O’Rourke Show Podcast: AsIAm “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 20 August, 2014
Tomorrow, AsIAm will launch its "Back to School" Handbooks on Autism, for parents, students and t...[...]

Download Today: AsIAm “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 20 August, 2014
Education can throw up many challenges for students with Autism such as the environment, structur...[...]

Dr Aoife Lyons: Organisational & Study Skills
by AsIAm.ie - 5 April, 2014
Dr Aoife Lyons, licensed clinical psychologist and university lecturer in UCD and DCU, ha...[...]

Mairead Quinn: Our Doggy Superheroes
by AsIAm.ie - 4 April, 2014
April is Autism Awareness Month but we’re aware of Autism 365 days a year in our house. Our hom...[...]

Dr Aoife Lyons: Things students with Autism or ADHD would like their teachers to know
by AsIAm.ie - 23 March, 2014
Dr Aoife Lyons, licensed clinical psychologist and university lecturer in UCD and DCU, puts herse...[...]