AUTISM NEWS
He then discussed this at his next support appoint-
ment and with his mentor developed solutions to
put into his Brain in Hand which would help next
time he faces this problem.
The changes and support we are putting in place at De
Montfort are making a real difference. I feel, just like
many other universities, we are truly helping students
with autism realize their potential. Just five years ago,
we supported 30 students with autism, and this num-
ber is now 200, through the range of support offered
here at DMU, this number will only grow.
With a career in higher educa-
tion spanning over 30 years, Tina
Sharpe leads the Disability Advice
and Support Team at De Montfort
University. She has played a crucial
role in large-scale transformation
projects at the University, includ-
ing Universal Design for Learning
(UDL) and Disability Enhancement
Program (DEP), both singled out at a national level
as being sector leading.
Tina has worked with others to create a Course
Specific Intervention, whereby customized work-
shops and interventions are offered to help reten-
tion and support any specific student inclusion and
attainment areas that have been highlighted. She
has taken the lead with support for students with
autism and has been instrumental in setting up a
structure of disability support that works well for a
university with nearly 25 percent of students regis-
tered as having a disability.
Her achievements have recently been recognized,
with both a Vice Chancellors Award for Distin-
guished Service and the NADP annual Deb Viney
Award. Earlier this year, her team and the Univer-
sity’s innovative work to support disabled students
earned a runners-up place in The Guardian Univer-
sity Awards in the category for the best Student Di-
versity and Widening Participation Scheme as well
as being shortlisted for the Times Higher Education
Leadership & Management Award (THELMA) for
Outstanding Student Services Team, recognizing
the impact of implementing Brain in Hand as a per-
sonalized support system for autistic students.
Website: www.braininhand.co.uk
66 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 68