Neuro Hub
A collection of neurodivergent-friendly resources and strategies to help students during their time at University.
ADHD
There are many strengths associated with ADHD:
- Creativity
- Enthusiasm
- Flexible thinking
- Innovative ideas
- Ability to hyperfocus
- Problem solving skills
But it can also have its challenges. Three types of ways ADHD can show up are:
- Inattention – procrastination, being easily distracted, difficulty with organisation and starting/finishing tasks.
- Impulsivity – speaking or acting without thinking things through, interrupting others, feeling impatient.
- Hyperactive – restlessness, fidgeting, and being over-talkative.
Students with ADHD might find it difficult to:
- Start and complete tasks
- Remember tasks, appointments and items (books, keys, laptop etc.)
- Organise their time, work and study
- Stay focused in lectures and take notes
- Adhere to deadlines
- Sit still for long periods of time
- Arrive on time
- Wait their turn in conversations
Break things down: Focus on one small step at a time instead of the whole task. For example, if you have a 2,000 word essay, start with 100 words. If that feels too much, just start by opening the document. You can also try Goblin Tools Magic ToDo to help with this.
Interest-based task first: Start with something you enjoy. Use the Pomodoro timer, using the first 20 minutes to work on a task that interests you, followed by a 5 minute break. Then use the next 20 minutes to tackle something more challenging. Why this helps: Starting with something enjoyable can make it easier to build focus and get your mind in work mode.
5 minute method: Starting tasks is often the hardest part so this is a good way to lower the barrier. Ask yourself “What’s the smallest action I could do in under 5 minutes?”. Set a timer and start. Why this helps: Starting creates momentum, making it easier to keep going and tackle more tasks.
Body Doubling: Ask a friend to study together and use each other as accountability buddies. This can help boost motivation and make work feel more fun. If you find working with others distracting, you can also use one of these online alternatives:
- Focus Friend: A cosy focus timer game that helps reduce screen time and increase productivity.
- Focus Mate: A virtual co-working platform that pairs you to a partner and helps you get things done.
- Dubbii: An app made by ADHD Love (Rich and Rox) to help neurodivergent individuals tackle every day task through body doubling.
- Youtube BD Videos: There are many creators that do Body Doubling sessions such as Hayley Honeyman or Mr Tiny’s Studio.
ADHD Self-Screening Tool: A survey designed for individuals to indicate whether they might have ADHD and would benefit from further clinical analysis. This is not a guaranteed diagnosis but can help if you are curious.
ADHD UK: Charity supporting individuals with ADHD. Providing clear guidance and resources on support available.
TimeTree: This is a visual calendar app, useful for ADHD individuals that struggle with time management. You can colour code, set recurring tasks and set multiple reminders so you don’t forget about tasks.
Xtiles: A virtual workspace designed for organising notes, planning projects and managing tasks.
Autism
There are many strengths associated with autism such as:
- Great attention to detail
- Deep focus
- Good analytical skills and ability to spot patterns
- Innovative thinking
- Determination and Resilience
Autism can also bring challenges with:
- Social interaction and communication
- Sensory overload – e.g lights, sounds, heat
- Interoception skills
- Overwhelm and anxiety
Students with autism may find it hard to:
- Learn information that is not explicitly taught
- Plan studies and how long to spend on a task
- Manage unpredictable environments
- Cope with last minute changes to schedules or plans
- Interpret ambiguous and open assignment briefs
- Transfer skills and knowledge from one situation to another
Create Predictability: Having structure and predictability can be helpful for students with autism as it reduces feelings of uncertainty. Ways to create this can be:
- Centralised organiser or planner where you put all your responsibilities, appointments and deadlines. For example, TimeTree is a useful virtual calendar app. It allows you to colour code tasks, set personalised reminders and share your plan with others.
- Study Plan can break down academic work and make it easier to get started. You may want to have a look at these Study Plans to get you started.
- Planning the night before. This could be planning your outfit or what you will do the next day. It can help with executive functioning as you will have less to think about in the morning and feel less stress.
Regulation: Knowing how to regulate can be helpful in new or stressful situations. Some ways you can do this are:
- The Body Scanner – guided meditation to reduce stress and can be helpful to identify what you are feeling.
- Quiet Spaces: Be aware of quiet spaces where you can step away when overwhelmed. These can provide a chance to reset and take time out to recharge when you need it.
- Comfort Kit: Carry a small kit of comfort items such as fidget toys, earplugs, affirmation cards etc.
Use Physical Tools: There is a variety of tools that can be used to manage unpredictable environments. For example:
- Loop Earplugs can be helpful to reduce loud or overwhelming sounds and manage unpredictable environments.
- Fidget Toys can be used for easy regulation or enhancing focus on a task. It can be a controlled form of stimming in any environment.
- Sunglasses can support individuals with light sensitivity by reducing bright lights.
- Communication Cards help with expressing emotions or needs without the need to speak verbally, particularly when overwhelmed.
National Autistic Society: Charity that help autistic people and their families. Their website has a variety of resources that can help you better understand autism or the challenges that it brings.
Autism&Uni: A toolkit to help you make the most of your time at university. It includes advice, student stories, directions and much more.
Dyslexia
There are many strengths associated with dyslexia such as:
- Ability to see the ‘bigger picture’
- Creative thinking
- Strong visual skills and ability to understand complex spatial relationships
- Observant and notice ‘things out of place’
Dyslexia can also bring challenges with:
- Reading and spelling
- Slower processing speeds
- Working memory
Students with dyslexia may find it hard to:
- Keep up in lessons and take accurate notes
- Work out how to tackle an assignment from the brief
- Get ideas down on paper in a logical and structured way
- Extract main points from verbal instructions or classes
- Complete reading and writing tasks as quickly as their peers
Text-to-speech software: There are many text-to-speech options and some computers have a built in version. A good option is Speechify which converts text into spoken audio. You can adjust the speed to suit your preference and pick from a variety of voices.
Spritz Reader: A speed reading tool that displays text one word at a time in a fixed position on your screen. It eliminates need for eye movement and aims to help you read quicker.
Break things down: Focus on one small step at a time instead of the whole task. For example, if you have a 2,000 word essay, start with 100 words. If that feels too much, just start by opening the document. You can also try Goblin Tools Magic ToDo to help with this.
Use Mind Maps: This can help organise information visually, which can make it easier to connect ideas, remember key points and plan essays.
Dyslexia UK: Offer remote dyslexia assessments and have lots of useful resources to help in many areas.
Made by Dyslexia: Website made by successful dyslexic individuals toolkits, posters and factsheets.
Dyslexic Thinking Test: Created by Made by Dyslexia to help individuals identify if they show dyslexic traits. This is not a formal diagnosis.
Additional Support
Using university support and reasonable adjustments can reduce barriers and make your time at university more manageable. Contact disabilitydyslexia@chi.ac.uk or book an appointment with one of our disability advisors via the Support Portal.
We offer online coaching sessions ran by our Coaching Psychologist Practitioners, which are confidential and free to all students.
These sessions can help with:
- Time Management
- Goal Setting
- Starting/Finishing Assignments
- Academic Stress and Overwhelm
- Study Motivation
- Balancing Deadlines
Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA) is additional government funding for students with disabilities to cover study-related costs incurred by their disability. If you would like more information regarding DSA, please View Here.
ADHD Society @UCSU: Peer-led community for student with ADHD. Can join whether you are formally diagnosed, waiting for an assessment or without a diagnosis.
Connections Group (Previously Autism Group): A social space to meet other neurodivergent students and seek advice or guidance.
Exceptional Individuals: Neurodiversity recruitment and employment support for individuals with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and Autism.
Access to Work: Support to help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.
