How Can Computers Help Students with Autism? A Guide

Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder, is a complex diagnosis.
The National Autistic Society defines it as a lifelong developmental disability. It can impact how children, teenagers, and adults interact with others, along with how they see and feel the world.
Luckily, in the last 30 years, research and programs to help those with ASD have come leaps and bounds. So much so that more people who have a diagnosis of ASD are in the workplace and attending university, much to the help of the technology that is also available to help them.
If you are a student with ASD who is about to start college, you may have questions about tools that can help you. Here is a short guide as to how a simple laptop can help you study without causing excess stress.

Eases communication
When you have ASD, communication can be tough, especially when it comes to formulating words to describe how you feel.
Laptops can ease concerns that you may have about communicating with classmates and your professors.

College laptops at Lenovo.com, for example, come equipped with email and downloadable apps to help you send messages quickly and effectively without the need for social interaction.

Eases learning
Learning is hard enough, especially if you are a student with ASD.
Once again, a laptop can be a saving grace when it comes to working out the kinks of your course. It allows fast access to instructional videos on YouTube alongside articles via Google Scholar or another provider. So, you can accelerate your learning without having to engage with other people.
A personal laptop also allows you to work in an environment free from noise and distractions, which can cause sensory overload.

Allows dictation
Many people who have ASD may struggle with taking notes in lecture halls or with writing.
Any laptop that has access to Microsoft Word can be worth its weight in gold. Microsoft Word allows you to plug in a headset and dictate. So, you won't have to worry about typing long essays.
There are dictation devices that can be set up in lectures. These can be synced to any number of laptop programs which will then dictate what is being said. Once again, saving time and stress.
Allowing you to organize your notes and files to your own liking.

Organizes routine
Many people with ASD become upset when their routine is disturbed or altered. Hence why machines can be so beneficial. There are now ways to enter your diary onto a computer, so it can keep track for you and remind you if you have something coming up, like a dentist appointment, for instance. If you have a voice-activated AI assistant, like Alexa, you can sync it to your laptop, allowing you to tell Alexa to set a reminder, and it will be done on your computer. This will help you to keep track and avoid alterations to your routine, which will help you to focus more on your studies without adding stress to your daily routine.