Speaker: Dr. Marc Fabri, senior lecturer, Leeds Beckett University. This talk will introduce the challenges and opportunities many young autistic students encounter during their higher education journey. Details and findings will be presented from two EU-funded research projects: Autism&Uni which focused on the transition into university, and IMAGE which is currently ongoing and focuses on the transition out of university, into the workplace. Both projects have a strong digital angle with the design of online toolkits specifically aimed at autistic students. Through a participatory design approach, students were directly involved in conception and production of these digital tools. Leeds- Beckett University have learnt a lot about the skills and preferences autistic students have, and how technology can help them fulfil their aspirations. Along the way pre-conceptions were thoroughly challenged. Both projects champion two important principles: Firstly, a strength-based view of autism that focuses on skills and abilities rather than deficits. And secondly a universal design approach to learning that provides choices, depending on an individual's preferences and abilities. This puts the onus on universities to consider how established practices and technologies must change to fully support autistic students in an inclusive way - and any other group of students.