'My Minecraft university helps autistic students'

A university campus built in a Minecraft world is helping people with autism to settle into student life.

Parts of De Montfort University (DMU), in Leicester, have been recreated by student Eden Turner to provide a place for people to meet up and make friends while playing the hit video game.

A Minecraft Movie, which boasts a star-studded cast including Jason Momoa, Jack Black and Jennifer Coolidge, is currently taking cinemas by storm.

DMU said it hoped the film's success would shine a light on the virtual academic world Eden, 23, is crafting.

Since its test release in 2009, Minecraft has grown in popularity and is now the biggest selling computer game of all time. The game is set in an 'open world', allowing players to create almost anything imaginable out of blocks.

Eden, from Leicester, who uses "they" and them" as personal pronouns, has already recreated a university library through the game, and has been asked to start crafting other campus locations as a place where they and other autistic students can meet.

Eden's work on the Minecraft DMU campus is part of their final year of their educational studies degree.

Eden said: "It was a surprising and nice use of my time for an assignment. It's been really helpful in building my confidence.

"The opportunities to create [when playing Minecraft] are endless.

"It's such a fun experience to create with no limits and no one telling you what to build. There are no guidelines when you first spawn in the world."

Clare Squires, DMU's autism officer, said: "We use our Minecraft server to start building community and a sense of belonging.

"We use it with new applicants who haven't yet started at our university.

"Students can play with people they don't know, and they can start to make acquaintances and friends before they even set foot on campus."

She added: "Once they are with us, there are a lot of students that don't find socialising in clubs and pubs and bars a comfortable experience, so we use Minecraft as a way for them to socialise and meet other people

"As they are already playing Minecraft, they have something in common so they have a head start."

Mrs Squires said Eden's Minecraft version of the Kimberlin Library was "perfect".

"I know Eden is not happy with some of the little details, but it looks just like the real thing. It's incredible.

"We have big plans for them to build other parts of the campus.

"Anxiety is a big part of autism for a lot of people and that anxiety about going to a strange place and not knowing what to do or how to navigate. That will be alleviated by what Eden has done."

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