First Campus at Cardiff University has supported a two-day event to help teenagers with Aspergers syndrome – a form of autism - to overcome their fears of going to university. 

The Widening Access Team put together a Discovery Summer School which gave eighteen young people the opportunity to gain experience of the university environment and the social life of a student.

Groups travelled from Wrexham, Llanidloes, Pembrokeshire and South East Wales to take part. The programme included a tour of the city in an open-top bus, shopping for food and cooking in a student kitchen, followed by an evening of teambuilding activities and an overnight stay in Talybont halls of residence. 

The summer school also included a talk by David Malins, the Students with Disabilities Officer at the University of Glamorgan, who highlighted his experience of going to university with Aspergers.

Parents were also able to attend the event and the experience has given participants all the information they need to make informed choices about higher education.  

For more information, please contact James Vilares at Cardiff University Widening Access Team, Tel : 02920 870324.