Young adults on the autism spectrum have historically had lower rates of college participation than their peers. In recent years, however rates of college participation have been rising. McLeod (2019) analyzed the experiences of autistic college students in comparison to their neurotypical peers.

This study used a survey to analyze the experiences of post-secondary autistic and neurotypical students in the United States.

Some of the key findings include:

• Rates of LGBTQ+ identity were higher among autistic samples, which is consistent with previous literature showing that LGBTQ+ identity is common in this population

• Autistic students report similar levels of academic engagement, yet fall behind academically, which may be explained by the fact they struggle with executive functioning, reading comprehension, and writing

• Students on the spectrum report lower-quality friendships and higher levels of bullying, which could suggest generalized social rejection as a result of stigmatized conditions

• Autistic students reported poorer physical and mental health, which could be due to co-occurring mental health conditions and health disparities