Applying the ICF to identify requirements for students with Asperger syndrome in higher education.

UNLABELLED: Higher education requires more than academic skills and everyday student-life can be stressful. Students with Asperger syndrome (AS) may need support to manage their education due to difficulties in social functioning.

OBJECTIVE

As preparation for the development of a structured tool to guide student and coordinator dialogues at Swedish universities, this study aimed to identify ICF categories that reflect requirements in everyday student-life for students with AS.

METHODS

Using descriptive qualitative approach, information in documents reflecting the perspectives of university students, international classifications, user/health organisations and education authorities were linked to ICF codes.

RESULTS

In total, 114 ICF categories were identified, most of which related to learning, tasks and demands, communication and interactions.

CONCLUSION

Students with AS need varying accommodations to be successful in higher education. In the future, ICF-based code sets, including demands on student roles, can be used as checklists to describe functioning and needs for support.