Filling the gap: Leveraging neurodivergence to promote equal learning environment for autistic students

Filling the gap: Leveraging neurodivergence to promote equal learning environment for autistic students

From Developing Practice - University of Liverpool by The Academy at the University of Liverpool

January 5, 2026 · 23 min · Episode 106

About this episode

The episode discusses strategies for supporting autistic students at university through a collaboration between a lecturer and her former student.

In this podcast I speak with Vanessa Marensi and her former student Amber who recently completed a collaboration exploring strategies for supporting Autistic students at university. Their collaboration came about when Vanessa mentored Amber while delivering some teaching at Chester. Amber successfully presented her undergraduate research at local meetings and has since graduated with a Distinction in Pharmacology and has now begun a Master’s degree also at the University of Chester. Vanessa is now a lecturer in Pharmacology at Bangor University and an Honorary lecturer at the University of Liverpool. They worked together to identify strategies to improve the student experience and development of skills required in the workforce, bringing together educational and scientific research and Amber’s lived experience as a student with Autism. A note on recording this podcast: In the first part of this podcast, you will hear me as the host referring to written comments Amber has submitted rather than hearing Amber’s voice directly. We wanted to make the podcast recording process as inclusive as possible considering Amber’s autism and social anxiety. Both Amber and Vanessa were sent…

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