Working in collaboration: advancing support for autistic students

A visiting researcher from Brazil, Priscila Beni (completing her PhD) is currently based at Leeds Beckett for six months, working with Dr Marc Fabri, Reader in Participatory Design in the School of Arts, to advance research helping universities better support autistic students.

Her work explores how autistic people understand their own traits and characteristics in order to outline their individual needs, with a particular focus on education and technology. She first connected with Dr Fabri after discovering his research online and spent a month at LBU in early 2025, before returning for an extended stay.

Now embedded within the university’s research environment, she is collaborating on academic papers while also connecting with leading autism researchers across the UK.

“Leeds Beckett is an important hub for autism research in higher education,” says Priscila. “Being here allows me to collaborate internationally and build on research that can make a real difference to autistic students.”

Supporting autistic students from arrival at university to graduation

For more than a decade, Dr Marc Fabri has led research focused on improving the university journey for autistic students, from entering higher education through to employment after graduation.

His efforts within this work include securing £650k in EU funding for two multinational projects:

Autism & Uni - supporting students transitioning into university

IMAGE – a focus on student transition out of university and into employment

These projects have produced a wide range of practical resources, including digital tools, student guides and training materials for university staff such as lecturers, disability advisers and careers teams.

“Our aim has always been to create resources that make a tangible difference,” said Dr Fabri. “It’s about giving both students and staff the tools they need to succeed.”

Global impact, local delivery

One of the key outcomes of this work is the Autism & Uni Toolkit, an online resource now used by around 30 universities across the UK, Ireland and internationally.

At Leeds Beckett, the toolkit is available to help autistic students find the support that is right for them, and for staff to better understand and respond to the needs of autistic learners. The university also offers dedicated support through its disability services and student-led communities.

Priscila’s current work is also contributing to a wider impact case study for Leeds Beckett’s contribution to the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF), helping to demonstrate how this research is improving experiences and outcomes for autistic students.

Building a more inclusive future

The collaboration highlights Leeds Beckett’s commitment to inclusive education and growing international research partnerships.

By combining lived experience, academic research and practical tools, the work being carried out at LBU is helping to shape more inclusive universities, both in the UK and around the world.

“This is about long-term change,” added Dr Fabri. “We’re seeing real progress, but there’s more to do, and collaborations like this are key.”