Freshers’ Week can feel daunting for anyone, but especially for neurodivergent folk. As an autistic individual, I was very nervous about navigating it. Uni was already a big change, and for it to start with what I thought would be a flashbang of an event, was terrifying. Don’t panic! I survived and so will you. Let me help you prepare.

One great thing about Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is that they hold an early orientation event for disabled students. This event gives you the opportunity to get to know the campus and some of the staff members as well as meet other people going through the same situation. It is low pressure and designed for you. I highly suggest going, as this is where I met my first uni friends.

What many would call the headlining event of Freshers’ Week is the Freshers’ Fair. The main point of the fair is to see what societies are on offer (and get a few freebies too). For me, it really helped to be able to talk to the committees and get lots of details to help me feel prepared and informed. The chance to have any questions answered is one of the reasons I think attending can be very beneficial.

Of course, this is a very big event. A lot of the uni will attend – so it gets very busy, which can be very overwhelming. One solution to that is the quiet hour at the beginning of the fair, which is there to accommodate people who need a quieter environment. The earlier you go in the fair, the quieter it will be. Approaching the booths was also something that made me nervous. When I actually came to talk to them though, I found all the committee members were very friendly and excited to talk about their society. In a lot of cases there will be flyers with information on the tables, so if talking is a little too much, you can always grab one on your way past.

Not attending Freshers’ Fair is also a totally valid choice. There is plenty of information available on the Student Union website, and most societies will have social media with additional information including upcoming events.

The rest of Freshers’ Week is often packed full of events. The uni does a lot to make sure you have plenty of opportunities to get to know your fellow students. CCCU have a very helpful list of events available on their website. To keep track of everything, I wrote down a list of what I wanted to do and when they were (really, I could have just used a calendar). I also looked up the locations in advance and familiarised myself with the map of the local area.

All in all, though it can feel quite scary, Freshers’ Week is totally manageable. It can help you prepare for the rest of your university experience. If you prepare yourself, it can go very smoothly. Don’t forget, there will always be someone around to help you out if you ask. All it takes is a convo or an email to ask for a little support.

Freshers’ Week from a neurodivergent student perspective